New display for MAPS Museum...

[Warbirdnerd]

MAPS Air Museum lands restored blimp gondola
Goodyear to help pilot weighty move of 10,000-pound flight cabin

By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008

GREEN: A newly restored Goodyear blimp gondola is to be transported Wednesday morning from Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake airship base to a permanent home at the MAPS Air Museum.

''It's primarily so that we can have something from the Akron area and from Goodyear,'' said MAPS public relations volunteer Ken Alexander.

''Airships and blimps are an important part of aviation history at the museum and we really wanted to have a piece of history connected to that.''

Alexander said the museum has had a display about blimps for some time. Featured items include a truss from the Hindenburg and pieces from the USS Akron and the USS Shenandoah, along with memorabilia and pictures of blimps.

''We've had a mock-up of a gondola for a while,'' Alexander said, ''but we're thrilled to be able to bring a real gondola into the museum.

''This is the real thing, a full gondola that was used on a blimp.''

A group of eight MAPS volunteers, headed by former Goodyear engineer Don Block, spent several weeks restoring the gondola, which serves as the flight cabin of a modern blimp. The pilot and co-pilot operate the blimp from controls at the front. It also seats eight passengers and houses the radar and avionics in its nose.

Alexander said Goodyear painted the gondola, which had been part of the Spirit of Akron blimp. He said a shroud will be attached over the area where the engines would be mounted, but a motor will not be installed.

The Elbert Building Co. Inc. of Elyria has donated a truck to transport the gondola, which is 36 feet long and weighs nearly 10,000 pounds.

Alexander said the construction company owner, Lorney Elbert, and Goodyear officials have ''meticulously planned the route the truck will take to the museum, making sure that the heavy load will clear any bridges and low-hanging signs and wires.''

It is hoped that the gondola will arrive around 9 a.m. at the museum at 2260 International Parkway, adjacent to Akron-Canton Airport.

Museum officials said they inquired whether the move would interfere with Republican presidential nominee John McCain's campaign visit to the city, also on Wednesday. So far, the move has the green light.

The gondola will come in on a wheeled cradle, then will be rolled to and placed on a permanent base in the hangar gallery at the museum.

Windows then will be fitted to the gondola to complete the restoration.

MAPS Air Museum visitors will be able to walk through the gondola to see the controls and passenger accommodations in what will be a permanent display.

''It will probably take us two to three weeks to finish everything,'' Alexander said. ''And then the gondola will be available for people to experience what it is like to ride in a blimp.''

For information on the MAPS Air Museum visit http://www.mapsairmuseum.org/

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http://www.ohio.com/news/31490104.html