Check Flight

Kate during the check flight. All in the green and to the flight plan.

(Post and photo courtesy Matthew K)

Up Ship!

First flight post-annual!

(photo courtesy Jeremy B)

Into the Sun

Back outside, after a month-long, on-time, and successful annual maintenance and inspection.

Kudus to the crew!

Eureka has a few days of test flights ahead of her, then a very busy 4-day run of sold-out tours from Moffett Field and Oakland before we head off on the six month coast to coast tour.

(Photo courtesy Matthew K)

Hanger Test Runs

Shall I give her more power captain? Ben doing the hangar leak runs, all ops normal.

(Photo/post courtesy Matthew K)

Topping Up

A top up for Eureka, the helium regulator and hose at the ready with a six pack of 291 cubic feet He bottles.

(Photo/post courtesy Matthew K)

East Doors Open

Today we opened the east doors and did the test runs. East doors had been out of service for months so this is good news for the crew.

(Post/photo courtesy Matthew K)

Mastwagen 1

Mastwagen 1 as seen from top of Eureka at frame 6b while doing the bonding tests.

(Photo/post courtesy Matthew K)

Urban Airships (8-bit)

Michael over at mobile software developer Urban Airship sent us this picture of a cool t-shirt they did with an "8-bit airship". Sounds like a game idea to me!

New Carpet

The new carpet is in. Looks great!

Bag-top view

If you could sit on top of a helium storage bag, this is the view you would have. We would not recommend you try this at home.

Left Hand Engine Mount

Getting ready for the engines to go back on.

Supports Coming Down

New Carpet

Victor Giotto (left) and Marco (right) from Giottos Aircraft Interiors arrived today with new carpet for Eureka.

As salesman might say, our old carpet had seen many feet and had been "well loved".

Entering our 4th season, we look forward to starting off with an interior refresh.

Helium Delivery

A delivery of helium arrives from Linde...

At the start of the annual, we drain about 6000 cubic meters into our helium storage bags (3 bags holding approximately 2000 cubic meters each). Towards the end of the process, we re-fill first with the recovered helium, and then top the ship back up with an additional 1250-1500 cubic meters.

Ballonet Fog Testing

No, this wasn't in support of producing the horror film "Return of the Airship Zombies".

Each year the trusty Rosco 3000 comes out to assist in testing ballonet integrity.

At least this year we didn't give the fire department a heart attack.

(Photo Matthew Kilkerr)

New Gondola Logo Decal

After 4 years, the old logo had started to fade. The new one is made in a different manner (a solid color vinyl, rather than digital print on white vinyl) and should last longer.

Low Cloud Cover

Low cloud cover?

(photo Matthew Kilkerr)

One Week In

The helium is out, the fins are off, and the annual is well under way.

Achtung! Annual in Progress