Helium Fill

We're nearing the end of the annual maintenance period and it is time for the ship to be filled once again with helium. We preserved about 5500 cubic meters via external storage bags, which will be reduced in volume further after removing impurities. A further 3-4000 cubic meters that have been delivered by truck will complete the fill.

Pinhole Inspection Day

Today is pinhole inspection day in the forward ballonet. We use bright lights inside the ballonet, lights out inside the main envelope, and look for stars of light.

Matthew sends this picture where you can see the ballonet and forward air blower.

Pressure Testing Longerons

Testing of the aluminum longerons is now complete, and they all tested good. There are 39 longeron pressure test points which are located inside the ship. When pressure checks out correctly, it indicates structural integrity of the section (ie, no cracks, holes or fractures).

Annual Maintenance Underway

Our annual inspection is underway, and the helium is now drained from the ship. Before that, the ship was prepared for the drain by removing the engines and fins, and then supporting the ship from below with braces attached to hard points on the frame.

So far, so good! We are on schedule.

This year we also have a large amount of decal work to do. In addition to removing the former brand, we will be applying a new brand! Can't wait!

A Very Large Cigar

Fog-machine fog rolls out of Eureka, during an annual maintenance inspection.

Fill 'er Up!

The crew moves helium storage bag #3 into position and begins to fold the fully deflated bag #2.

The bags empty from the top, and the helium is pumped into Eureka, again at the top, where it pools upward, pushing the heavier air out through her ventral ports.

The giant bags deflate slowly, going through the utterly mind-roasting 'Giant Jellyfish/Space Brain' phase.

And then, as the cloud of helium begins to struggle against the heavy bag, we move in the standard 'Abstract Elephant' phase. What a treat.

What's In the Box?

Oh nothing much... just a new aft rotor.

Where There's Smoke...

Here, the crew is unpacking the third and final helium storage bag, as Eureka tops off the second, the base of which is beginning to fill out in the left side of the photo.


When all Eureka's salvageable helium (~6,900 cubic meters) has been stowed away in our three helium storage bags, the main difference between blimps and Zeppelins becomes apparent - she's not deflated!


Eureka's internal frame supports her from the inside, while struts and the mast truck hold and support her from below. And, while it normally would balance the ship's weight, there's really no need for all this ballast in such a heavy airship. What's the point of all this work, though? Matt and his team need access to all parts of the the ship for the annual inspection, and that includes the inside of the pressure envelope!


It might look like a fire, but it's actually just a test of our high-capacity smoke machine, used to inspect the hull for leaks. We warned the fire department already, just in case anyone thinks we've lit the place on fire, but

Stay tuned for scenes from inside!

Heavier than Air

As Matthew carries out the annual maintenance procedures, Eureka is drained of helium, and the ship is now supported from the nose by the mast truck, and at six of its frames by posts and beams.

You can see the gray helium drain hose coming from the top off the ship to the bags and blower.

As the helium is drained, it's pumped into three giant helium storage bags. Each bag holds 2,300 cubic meters of helium and, alone, each could fill a MetLife blimp with 8,600 cubic feet of surplus helium!

Eureka holds a total of 7,400 cubic meters of helium, so where does the other 500 cubic meters go? Because the bottom-most helium mixes with air as the envelope slowly drains out the top, the 'dregs' are not worth putting back in and must be vented.

The bags are held down by concrete blocks on castor wheels - each one is 400 lbs!

Up next: Why take out all the helium?