Volume XV
Issue 2
February 2012
Copyright
© 1998-2012
The Globe-Guardian
All Rights Reserved
ISSN: 1525-6316
Western United States
If you have seen a blimp or at least suspect that you have seen a blimp, add your report to this page by completing the report form and submitting it to the Globe-Guardian. Anyone who provides a report automatically becomes a member of the Blimp Spotters Brigade, earning advancement through the ranks with each incident provided.
DATE: December 27, 2011
TIME: 8:06 p.m.
LOCATION: Santa Maria, California, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Jim
Michelin blimp over Santa Maria. Seems to be mostly hovering, but headed north. Maybe going to Oceano Airport?
DATE: March 26, 2011
TIME: Not Reported
LOCATION: Clear Lake, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Gary
As I set in our back yard today, a “Snoopy” Met Life blimp was spotted heading south from the vicinity of Ellington Field in Clear Lake, to the west of Space Center Drive, flying in a southerly direction toward the NASA Road One area. The blimp's nose was bobbing, and the airship tilted as it went south. Altitude no more than a few hundred feet.
Got a few good pictures form my mobile phone.
Then, I saw it heading north, closer to Space Center Drive, at a quicker pace. The blimp must be mooring at Ellington Field to get some test runs in advance of the Shell Houston open at Redston Golf Course on March 31.
DATE: January 28, 2011
TIME: 2:10 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Beaumont, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I saw the DirecTV blimp on my way home from Houston to Beaumont. The blimp was at approximately1,500 feet up, and it was westbound toward Houston.
DATE: January 24, 2011
TIME: 11:55 a.m. CST
LOCATION: Crestview, (Texas?), USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Karen
Looked out front door and spotted DirecTV blimp in the distance. Put fresh batteries in my camera and waited until it got closer and zoomed in and took three or four pictures. The blimp about 1,000 feet in air, traveling at slow speed. There must have been a wind gust or two because at one point in travel over this area, it raised upward and then nose tilted downward and straightened out. It was traveling from east to west.
DATE: November 4, 2010
TIME: Shortly Before Afternoon Tea, July 7, 1947
LOCATION: Boise, Idaho, USA
SPOTTER: Brigadier Gen. Dick
Publisher's Note: This the latest exploit reported by the recently promoted Brig. Gen. Dick, who has continued his meteoric rise through the ranks of the Blimp Spotters Brigade despite an apparently irreparable insubordinate attitude. For links to earlier reports, click here and scroll down to Nov. 16, 2009.
************
Recent declassification of Top Secret US Government documents related to a situation of which I have firsthand knowledge compel me to relate this story before others come forward and facts are lost, fabricated, misstated or otherwise FUBAR’d.
………………………
In early July 1947, rookie US Representative Rick Nickson (not his real
name) and I were hunkered down in a quiet corner of the deserted yet
tastefully decorated Bogus Basin Lodge near Boise, ID.
Feeling good about our recent success at erasing closely guarded taped
recordings of conversations between Rick and his mother, Rick and I were
knocking-back copious amounts of deeply chilled Ouzo Highballs from
life-size skull-shaped crystal drinking glasses that were the size
of…well…uh…our heads. In a moment of shared lucidity we
agreed that before the inevitable temporary alcohol blindness set in we
should finalize plans for our next clandestine adventure – Rick was a
big fan of trickery, secrets and sneaking around, you see.
The next thing I remember is climbing into the cockpit of an idling,
unattended and recently retired TC Class US Navy airship – fortune
shone on me again as the first post-war “North American Blimp Float
In” was being held that very day around and above the Idaho state
capitol building.
Our intent was to fly the behemoth to Tijuana Mexico where Rick was
tight with the local authorities and knew of an exciting new cocktail
that was all the rage south of the border - the Pink
Pussycat. Unfortunately a few miles north-northwest of
Las Vegas, NV we were unceremoniously encouraged to modify those plans.
I was struggling to maintain a low altitude in an effort to avoid nasty
upper level cross-winds that would buffet the massive sides of our gray
chariot while Rick entertained himself by launching rolls of toilet
paper from an open hatch in the cabin floor at the unsuspecting plant
life below. Perhaps that’s why we didn’t notice the two P51
Mustang fighter planes ominously bearing down on us.
My attempts to elude the menacing duo were successful up until our
forward motion was abruptly thwarted by the desert floor. The
resulting fire storm was everything one could have hoped for if one is
fond of tossing lighted matches in to 20 story office buildings brimming
with flammable gas.
We were stunned and wide-eyed. Our clothes and body hair
vaporized. Our skin blackened, and we were walking wildly as a
result of the crash and the previous 24+ hour Ouzo jag. So it’s
not surprising that the military personnel that came to escort us might
mistake us for something other than what we were. In an
ill-advised attempt to settle our captors and to establish a foundation
for a plausible deniability defense, Rick stepped forward, arms extended
skyward, second and third fingers spread wide forming a vee, and stated,
as only Rick could do, “We are not crooks.”
I don’t know how long I spent in that small brick room with no windows
and unflattering florescent lighting but it was a much shorter stay than
I anticipated. While I passed the time picking at flakes of my
toasted skin, Rick was apparently busy negotiating our release. It
seems that Rick was able to convince a few of the mucky mucks that
someday he might be bestowed with infinite power and that it might be to
their advantage to allow us to leave without so much as a slap on the
wrist – I remember thinking that ‘ol Rick was quite the dreamer and
that he might go places if he stays out of trouble.
It wasn’t until the next day that I realized the magnitude of our
mishap. Initially the papers said that military officials claimed
they shot down an alien spacecraft and then shortly after they
recanted and said it was just a weather balloon. It seemed like
much ado about nothing at the time but I later came to realize that the
commotion we caused in the Nevada desert served to keep the public
distracted from the real story that summer.
It was around that time that several men were caught breaking into the
United States Water Committee’s headquarters in DC. As the
details of that investigation unfolded, the citizens learned that The US
Government was secretly replacing our natural water supply with
artificial water. You may know this cover-up by its more common
moniker…WaterFake.
It took me 240 payments of $416.67 to pay back Mr. Howie Pughes (not his
real name) for the airship we destroyed.
.
DATE: November 1, 2010
TIME: Evening CDT
LOCATION: Arlington, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Robert
Blimp circling over World Series game 5, and 3 & 4 for that matter. No recent record of N154ZP at FlightAware.com, so unable to report base of operations or next destination. Competed for airspace with fixed wing banner-ad-pulling aircraft. Retreated to safety before F18 formation fly-by.
DATE: November 1, 2010
TIME: 2 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Barbara, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jan
Large, silver-colored blimp flying north of Santa Barbara with the ad "find the if in life" MetLife. So close to elections, we think it has something to do with that!
DATE: October 31, 2010
TIME: 11:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Arlington, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
Blimp flying northeast at 2,000 to 3,000 feet. Looking to position for pro football and world series games.
DATE: September 24, 2010
TIME: 12:45 p.m. MDT
LOCATION: West Desert, Utah, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Nicholas
This is the second time in a month we were on Highway I-80, about 100 miles west of Salt Lake city, when we spotted an all-white blimp to the north. It was 5 or so miles from the highway. It's hard to tell.
DATE: April 13, 2010
TIME: 12:20 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Sacramento, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tyler
I was at lunch with my friends, and there was a house with a bunch of drug dealers nearby. I know they are drug dealers, but that is another story. Anyway, it was a white blimp with one fin up top and two fins, closer together, at the bottom. It came in from a high altitude, slowly dropping until maybe about 250 feet. It was so low that I thought it was going to crash, but it just stopped over that house for about 5 minutes. Then it proceeded onward, west, I believe. Gaining altitude quickly.
DATE: January 13, 2010
TIME: 5:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Large, white blimp heading east, close to Los Angeles
International Airport.
DATE: November 22, 2009
TIME: 11:00 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Scott
Very large, all-white blimp headed south over the shoreline, just passing Santa Monica Airport over Venice Pier, possibly headed for Los Angeles Airport; 1,000-2,000 feet above sea level. It was the largest blimp I have ever seen.
DATE: September 18, 2009
TIME: 1:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Burbank, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Susan
A Goodyear blimp was flying counterclockwise in Burbank, California around Buena Vista Street, Olive Avenue, 134 Freeway, NBC and the Warner Brothers Studios. Perhaps they are filming something for the Jay Leno Show. As of this writing, the blimp flight has been going on for about 1-1/2 hours and still going. Flying at about 1,000 feet.
DATE: August 18, 2009
TIME: 4:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Rosa, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Donna
The Goodyear blimp was traveling west toward the Charles Schulz Airport. It was a beautiful day in wine country, and I was outside on a break when I saw it. I heard the sound first and looked around not sure what I would see. It was really close and I could see it very well. It was very quiet.
DATE: January 21, 2009
TIME: Evening PST
LOCATION: Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
See Jan. 19-20 report below.
DATE: January 19-20, 2009
TIME: Afternoon PST
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Kind of a coincidence of timing. Testing of surveillance blimps?
DATE: December 19, 2008
TIME: 4:13 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Livermore, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Leo
MetLife Snoopy 2 -- here until Sunday, then heads for San Diego on Monday.
DATE: October 29, 2008
TIME: 4:13 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tyrell
A weird black and white blimp has been floating around the valley for the past few weeks. The blimp has some logo that I can't make out. For a minute, it looked like it was headed on a collision course with my office building. I'm sure Osama is behind this.
DATE: October 28, 2008
TIME: 11:18 a.m. MST
LOCATION: Benson, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Doug
I heard the prop sound first, then saw the ship, Met Life> The blimp certainly was having a time maintaining level flight, bobbing up and down like a cork. As it went overhead, I suspected he was headed for the Benson Municipal Airport. When he started his approach, I felt sorry for the passengers and pilot. The angles were severe and would make anyone airsick. Finally he disappeared, and I hoped he got down safely. Clear, light winds, he was headed west. I am a TWA historian, so naturally if it has anything to do with flight, I am on it!
DATE: June 23, 2008
TIME: 8:57 a.m. MST
LOCATION: Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Davis
The Goodyear blimp was over my house today as I was in my garage.
DATE: May 24, 2008
TIME: 7:00 p.m. MST
LOCATION: Gilbert, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Matt
I was running to my car during work (Outback Steakhouse off Williams Field/Market St. in the SanTan Village shopping mall), and I noticed to the east a huge, plain white, blimp. It seemed like it was flying really low, like it was lower than the power lines in my line of sight. It was 1-2 miles away (very rough estimate). I tried to get my camcorder out, but the blimp moved too fast and went behind a building. Was crazy low, plain -- like all white, nothing else -- and moved pretty fast.
DATE:
November 23, 2007
TIME: 4:00 p.m. PST
LOCATION: San Diego, California, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Chris
MetLife Snoopy 2 came to San Diego for NFL Sunday Charger Game. Rode blimp from Chula Vista up the coast to Mission Valley, around through La Mesa, back down to Chula Vista.
DATE: September 8, 2007
TIME: 1:00 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Socorro, New Mexico, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Outback blimp flying north above Rio Grande River in central New Mexico. Estimated altitude, 500 feet above ground (ground level 4,200 ft.). Had difficulty with horizontal control, showing considerable porpoising.
DATE: August 3, 2007
TIME: 4-4:30 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Lake Stevens, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ellen
Sailing through sunny skies east of Everett, Washington. Annual visit to the area for Seattle Seafair this weekend. I believe it "parks" at Paine Field in Everett near the Boeing plant.
DATE: August 2, 2007
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Shoreline, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Technical Sgt. Stevo
I saw the great-granddaddy of them all, the Goodyear blimp, flying north.
DATE: July 27, 2007
TIME: 5:25 p.m. MST
LOCATION: McKinleyville, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ange
Goodyear blimp spotted with unreadable neon message heading north over my property on the bluff overlooking Clam Beach probably about 1,000 feet altitude at probably 30-40 knots. I regret that I was not aboard in order to take some aerial photos of my property.
DATE: November 21, 2006
TIME: 2:00 p.m. MST
LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Terri
We drove from Lake City, Florida, to Tucson for Thanksgiving. We saw the Sanyo blimp all along the route above Interstate Highway10 in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and in Tucson two days later. We hope the blimp will be returning along that same route next week.
DATE: April 20, 2006
TIME: 3:45 p.m. MDT
LOCATION: Deming, New Mexico, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Donna
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DATE: April 19, 2006
TIME: 10:20 a.m. MDT
LOCATION: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Sean
I was looking out my office window, and I saw a blimp flying south.
DATE: April 14, 2006
TIME: 9:50 a.m. MDT
LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Janet
Ameriquest's Soaring Dreams Airship has been flying around Tucson yesterday and today. We can see it easily from our balcony, as it is a very brightly colored blimp. I don't think it is up to anything suspicious, as it is sooo conspicuous, but we will keep an eye on it.
DATE: April 12, 2006
TIME: 1 p.m. MDT
LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Linda
It was the Ameriquest blimp, which has apparently been in Tucson all week long. It was really zipping along on the east side of town (Speedway and Kolb). Awesome sight.
DATE: April 12, 2006
TIME: 10:50 a.m. MDT
LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tushaun
It was the psychedelic blimp -- first seen yesterday, but this morning it made three passes practically over my property, before heading off south toward Tucson. It's fun, the way it's painted; but it really disturbs my dogs.
DATE: April 12, 2006
TIME: 9:36 am. MDT
LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I spotted it from my fifth-floor office at Broadway and Swan in Tucson. It was floating between me and the Tucson mountains. It has been circling the city for two hours now, and I've been right under it at one point. My son took a picture of it. The port side has a mouth and eye visible; starboard side makes the eye hard to see. Outlined in bright colors (orange, yellow, green, blue, etc., with black borders between the colors); yellow gondola. Looks like a colorful fish. No text.
DATE: April 11, 2006
TIME: 6 p.m. MDT
LOCATION: Marana, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bob
Ameriquest colorful blimp was on the ground and docked at Marana-Northwest Regional Airport. This is approximately 20 miles northwest of Tucson.
DATE: April 8 2006
TIME: 11:40 a.m. MDT
LOCATION: Tucson (Pima County), Arizona USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jeff
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DATE: April 2, 2006
TIME: 4:37 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Venice, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Pamela
It (http://www.venicebeach.org/psychedelic_blimp_0) flew over my backyard in Venice, California, which is a few blocks from Venice Beach. It went north, returned 10 minutes later and then flew towards the beach and over Santa Monica Bay.
DATE: March 19, 2006
TIME: 1:20 p.m. PST
LOCATION: San Diego, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Blake
It’s the multicolored blimp -- circling and circling -- for more then an hour. Location: 1 mile southwest of where the 805 and 52 freeways meet in San Diego. No markings except for all those great colors. It’s much faster than Sanyo and Goodyear blimps, and it seems more maneuverable.
DATE: March 13, 2006
TIME: 1:20 p.m. PST
LOCATION: San Diego, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Linda
Wow, what a sight! The multicolored blimp was flying along the pacific coast by Crystal Pier in San Diego. It was out over the ocean, but close to the shore. It headed north and then turned around and went back south. It was really close, and the colors were very distinct. It looked amazing against the clear blue sky. I could see no markings indicating who it belonged to. The carriage below the blimp was yellow. Very cool.
DATE: March 12, 2006
TIME: 4:00 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Orange, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Annie
I was playing softball with my husband and dogs, and there it was! A blimp -- big and round -- over the Anaheim area.
DATE: March 8, 2006
TIME: 11:11 a.m. PST
LOCATION: San Diego, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic AudreyBeth
The multi-colored blimp (believed to be Ameriquest's airship painted by school children) was headed south in a wide, wide circular turning pattern near the Coronado Bay Bridge (connects San Diego to Coronado) at an approximate height of 1,000 feet (merely guessing... looked to be about 800 feet above the bridge span, and the bridge height is 200 feet above the water level). No intentions indicated.
DATE: March 5, 2006
TIME: 4:00 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Orange, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Annie
Two blimps, spotted racing through the air in Orange. You really can't miss 'em -- they are incredibly loud! I keep a blimp log at home because I am randomly spotting them often, and now my friends think I am crazy. Fun times!
DATE: March 1, 2006
TIME: 1:00 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Orange, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Annie
Round, big, and loud. That's the only way to describe the enormous blimps. This time the blimp was covered in graffiti. Really now?
DATE: March 1, 2006
TIME: 11 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Qevin
Psychedelic blimp: I chased it a couple of miles (in my car) and waved up at it. Whoever was piloting, floated to just above where I had parked, and got out of the car. It "modeled" for my camera for a good 5 minutes. It was an awesome sight, kinda like looking up at a floating, graffiti whale.
DATE: Feb. 27, 2006
TIME: High Noon PST
LOCATION: Chula Vista, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Layla
An Outback Blimp looked like it was taking a nose dive near my home. It disappeared behind trees. Then, about a minute later, it took a steep climb back into the sky and continued in a southeastern direction.
DATE: Feb. 2, 2006
TIME: 1:55 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Tracy, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Stevie
My first time spotting a blimp in the sky! Pretty cool. It had the MetLife logo on its side and flew right over my house. I saw it as I was getting home from school.
DATE: Feb. 1, 2006
TIME: 10:25 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Lizzie
I spotted the mysterious multi-colored blimp heading east over the approximate area of Hollywood Boulevard. I feel it could be a scouting mission on the area around the Kodak Theatre for some devious plan concerning the Oscars.
DATE: Jan. 18, 2006
TIME:10:00 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Santa Monica, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Eric
The blimp with the multicolored design flew over the Santa Monica pier several times and then headed inland.
DATE: Jan. 17, 2006
TIME: 8:30 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Long Beach (Carson), California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jeff
On my drive to work this morning I spotted three blimps! That's right three! I first noticed the Ameriquest Soaring Dreams airship moored at Long Beach Airport. A few seconds later, I looked down the field and saw the Met Life Snoopy blimp moored there as well! Then, I passed the Goodyear Spirit of America moored at its home base a few minutes later! So much blimp activity in southern California! What are these suckers up to?
DATE: Dec. 9, 2005
TIME: 6:21 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Mary
A solid white lightship is circling around just south of me as I write this. I am not sure who this blimp belongs to, but it has been moored at the airport down the street for the last few days, along with the other white blimp I saw last month. Both white blimps are lightships. One is solid white with no markings that I can see. The other has a black rectangle on the side that appeared to have some sort of animation on it a couple of days ago when my friend and I saw it as we drove home from work. Also, Soaring Dreams was moored at the airport for a couple of weeks, but left not long after the two white blimps arrived. It was kind of cool to see three blimps out on the field together.
DATE: Nov. 30, 2005
TIME: 12:45 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Dana
My friend and I were sitting in his back yard having lunch and enjoying the warm weather and we spotted the "Partridge Family" blimp. It was the coolest looking thing I have seen. Who owns it and what is the deal? Some websites say it is owned by Ameritrust? But nothing on the website. Who ever has it, it's cool and I would love to go for a ride in it!
Airship Spotter Basic Dana: That's "Ameriquest," and the airship is the Soaring Dreams. (click here for more)
DATE: Nov. 30, 2005
TIME: 12:10 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Muscoy, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Sandy
My husband was outside in our yard and yelled at me to come out. It was the psychedelic Partridge Family blimp. They came from the east and came down low, then went west, gained altitude, then went west over an area of some of our friends' homes and just stopped in midair hovering, then went around Muscoy. We then went to our local library walking and spotted it again when we arrived there. Following us? Hello, Shirley Jones, Susan Dey, Danny, David and whoever else is up there.
DATE: Nov. 30, 2005
TIME: 12:05 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Muscoy, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Ron
Today, while fixing lunch in my back yard, I saw a blimp with psychedelic, geometric-shaped circles, triangles and rectangles of bright red, blue, orange and purple, with the carriage of bright yellow. The blimp came from the east, then descended over our property. We waved up at it as it moved along our property line. It then ascended and stationed itself over the center of Muscoy for a minute or two. It started to turn back toward us, and I waved profusely at it. It then turned westward and again remained stationary for a seemingly long time. Finally, it continued westward to disappear. Less than an hour later, my wife, Sandy, and I sighted it traveling northward while we were walking to our local library. Who are they? I remember a psychedelic bus. Hello, Partridge Family?
DATE: Nov. 26, 2005
TIME: 9:30 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Barbara, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Crystal
MetLife's Snoopy Two was headed east, just off the ridge tops of Santa Barbara.
DATE: Nov. 29, 2005
TIME: 8:50 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Livermore, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Edward
Saw MetLife blimp over Livermore airport and landing. The blimp was red, white and blue. Saw Snoopy dog on the nose.
DATE: Nov. 19, 2005
TIME: 12:35 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Mary
Ameriquest's Soaring Dreams flew directly over my house. It was flying at a fairly low altitude, since it had just taken off from the airport. I got some great pictures of it this time -- the first time I have been able to photograph it in the air.
DATE: Nov. 18, 2005
TIME: 3:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Long Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Jeff
I saw a white blimp landing at long beach airport that said "Geraldo at Large" on the side of it. The same day I saw the Sanyo blimp flying low over Long Beach. Who knows what those suckers were doing.
DATE: Nov. 17, 2005
TIME: 3:50 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Mary
Ameriquest's Soaring Dreams Airship flew over my house on the way to the airport. This is the first time I have seen the blimp in the air. I saw it moored at the airport about a month or so ago. It is an amazing sight!
DATE: Nov. 8, 2005
TIME: 4:15 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Hollywood, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Justin
Wow -- Pretty blimp!
DATE: Nov. 8, 2005
TIME: 3:47 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Hollywood, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic "Blimpblaster"
A blimp has been traveling a pattern above the Hollywood/Highland area most of the day. It is the multi-colored, slightly gay blimp. If they're not keeping an eye on me, I'd be surprised.
DATE: Nov. 8, 2005
TIME: 2:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Hollywood, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Elisa
Actually, I've been seeing this very colorful blimp fly around since about 2 this afternoon. For the life of me, I can't see any type of name on it. It's flying in a figure-eight format between Sunset and Vine and, from the looks of it, over to La Brea and Sunset. As I look out my window, it seems to be going toward Burbank now.
DATE: Nov. 5, 2005
TIME: 7:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Muscoy, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Sandy
We were barbequing in our yard on Saturday night, and the blimp came over very low right over us heading south from coming from the northwest. How exciting. Our governor also happened to be in the Inland Empire on that day, along with Prince Charles visiting our state during that time. Hello out there. It was the Sanyo blimp. My nickname from first and last name is Sanyo.
DATE: Nov. 5, 2005
TIME: 7:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Muscoy, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ron
We were enjoying an evening outside with a cooked barbeque dinner. We then sighted the Sanyo blimp dipping southward, directly over the head of my wife, Sandy, and I. The blimp was fully illuminated, with red-glowing navigation (?) lighting. As an artist, I can only explain in illustration the altitude -- I would say directly above us, perhaps the size of descent from three inches sky-visual to six feet. We could almost see the passengers in the carriage below it. The direction was north to south. It cruised leisurely across our entire yard, then ascended to finally disappear after leaving our property boundary. About two nights later, at the same time, Sanyo came again from west to east, descending about the same altitude over us -- to then ascend after leaving our property boundary. What interesting is that Price Charles and Camille were visiting America at the time -- and so was Ambassador Manning. Gov. Schwarzenegger of California was also touring San Bernardino's Inland Empire then. The question I have: Hello Arnold and Maria?
DATE: Oct. 28, 2005
TIME: 3:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mary
I was driving home from work when I noticed a large white blimp flying over the small airport which is only a few blocks from my house. I am not sure who owns this blimp, since it does not have any writing on it. It is mostly white with a large black square on one side. The blimp was moored for several days at the airport close to my house. It was joined by the Sanyo blimp, which was spotted flying directly over my house a few days after I first saw the white blimp. Both blimps were moored at the airport for more than a week before they left.
DATE: Oct. 28, 2005
TIME: 1:26 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Alex
I saw the Met Life blimp northwest bound over Hollywood. It's red, white and blue, says "Have You Met Life Today" and has Snoopy near the front. It went off over the Santa Monica mountains -- clearly also searching for those same scoundrels!
DATE: Oct. 28, 2005
TIME: 12:28 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ronald
I just saw this flying 60's VW Bus, painted all over in psychedelic colors. Immediately, I suspected a flashback from my misspent youth, but a sober co-worker confirmed my sighting. How cool is this? Approximate altitude was 2,000 feet, and direction of travel was from west to east. I suspect nefarious designs lurk behind the apparently benign actions of the pilot. Beware the 13th day past the ides of October!
DATE: Oct. 28, 2005
TIME: 12:44 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Alex
It was the multi-colored Ameriquest blimp again. It was headed eastbound over Hollywood. I saw it earlier on its westbound journey at 11:20 a.m. I have also seen this blimp parked at Long Beach Airport a couple of times. I think it is based there when in the LA area. I'm not sure what the blimp is up to, but I suspect they are out hunting for other scoundrels involved in leaking the identity of a CIA agent.
DATE: Oct. 28, 2005
TIME: 11:30 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Monica, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Keely
The multi-colored Ameriquest blimp was traveling due west on a beautiful Friday in Santa Monica. Only six blocks from the ocean, my office spotted the blimp heading straight for the coast!
DATE: Oct. 26, 2005
TIME: 9:55 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Jose, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Chris
It was a cloudy morning, with the wind from the south. A dark blimp with a light-colored insignia proceeded south along the eastern edge of Silicon Valley this morning. There are various reservoirs, ranches, and, of course, the Lick Observatory in the hills. I suspect the worst.
DATE: Oct. 22, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Salem, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ariel
Looks like it was heading toward the Salem Airport (McNary Field), southwest of my location (near the capitol). White blimp, looked like it may have had a blue logo on the port side.
DATE: Oct. 21, 2005
TIME: 3:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Pleasanton, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Katie
I saw the Michelin blimp yesterday, flying over the small Livermore Airport. It was about 1,500 feet high, heading east past the airport. It was blue and white, and now is stationed at the airport.
DATE: Oct. 19, 2005
TIME: 2:10 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Alex
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DATE: Oct. 19, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Burbank, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Steve
I saw the beautifully colored Ameriquest blimp "Hope" circling downtown Burbank at an estimated altitude of 500 feet.
DATE: Oct. 11, 2005
TIME: 10:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Stockton, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Edward
The Sanyo blimp, red and white, was spotted going south over Stockton.
DATE: Sept. 30, 2005
TIME:12:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Pomona, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic M.K.
We saw this small blimp that was flying over our work area. The colors looked like they were from the 'sixties -- very psychedelic you might say; no names or logos on it.
DATE: Sept. 30,
2005
TIME:11:20 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Alex
I spotted the multi-colored Ameriquest blimp cruising eastbound above Hollywood. Oh my, there is the Sanyo blimp coming into view also. From this distance, they look as if they passed right next to each other. The Sanyo blimp is headed west. Who knows what they are up to.
DATE: Sept. 29, 2005
TIME: 2:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Ana, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Lori
A blimp was flying around today from northwest to southeast near the John Wayne Airport landing path. The blimp is multi-colored, painted similar to 70's style/Partridge Family bus but pastel colors instead. Wild, man!
DATE: Sept. 24, 2005
TIME: 1:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Long Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Becky
I thought I was seeing a Flying Partridge Family Bus. My husband and I were geocaching near the Long Beach Airport, and pulled over to watch it land. Passengers got off, and others got on. It took off. We drove home and saw it flying over our heads again. Cool blimp! Sure would love to go for a ride sometime.
DATE: Sept. 24, 2005
TIME: 12 Noon PDT
LOCATION: Long Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Becky
Saw the white Sanyo blimp flying along the coast.
DATE: Sept. 11, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Bernardino, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Priscilla
As I was coming home from the store, the blimp was relatively low in the sky. headed in a southbound direction. The blimp was very vibrant against the beautiful blue sky -- weatherwise, a picture-perfect day. The overall design and colors encouraged us to look it up on the internet and explore just what the blimp was all about! Very cool!
DATE: Sept. 9, 2005
TIME: 4:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Rosa, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Dolores
Spotted the Ameriquest blimp while driving and called my family. It is gorgeous, and I would love to see it again and again. We hope it will return to our skies. Fantastic coloring by children, I understand. What a concept.
A neighbor knew of it and remembered that it once landed at a race track and caused the race to be canceled. He wasn't impressed to see it, but I thought it was amazing. I called by family members in town; son-in-law got a picture as it headed south towards the bay (I presume). It slowly cruised over our city, then picked up speed and altitude as it left our airspace. I have noticed other blimps Ameriquest owns -- pretty, but nothing like the psychedelic one.
DATE: Sept. 4, 2005
TIME: 1:00-2:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Bandon, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
This fantastic psychedelic blimp was spotted heading south over Bandon Dunes Golf Course on the Pacific Coast in southern Oregon. All the golfers stopped and watched in wonder as it passed over head.
DATE: Sept. 4, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Charleston, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Holly
This was a psychedelic blimp flying over Charleston, Oregon, in no particular direction. Lots of tourists do that here.
DATE: Sept. 2, 2005
TIME: 11:30 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Salem, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Clifton
Colorful blimp was hovering over the Salem Municipal Airport. I presume for a landing, but I have not followed up on that.
DATE: Aug. 31, 2005
TIME: 7:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Thomas
I have seen the blimp AMERIQUEST at our airport for several days. Took a picture of it at sunset. Very colorful blimp.
DATE: Aug. 18, 2005
TIME: 4:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Richard
The colorful blimp belonging to Ameriquest Mortgage (according to this website) was spotted over Beaverton, heading west toward Hillsboro in a zigzag pattern
DATE: Aug. 18, 2005
TIME: 2:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Rochester, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
The beautiful colored Ameriquest blimp heading south along the Interstate 5 corridor; great experience to have seen it on both of its flight legs through this sector and also during the NHRA races at Pacific Raceways.
DATE: Aug. 18, 2005
TIME: 1:05 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Tacoma, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Susan
I was out having a break, and my co worker and I saw it heading southwest. I have no way of guessing altitude. It was close enough to see the painting clearly. VERY COOL.
DATE: Aug. 14, 2005
TIME: 10:45 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Vashon Island, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Edward
This exceptional, colorful airship was heading south over Vashon Island -- maybe a couple hundred feet above my house -- flying a large, beautiful American flag from its tail fins. Personal suspicion: King County tax assessor.
DATE: Aug. 13, 2005
TIME: 12:45 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Camano Island, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Darrel
Looking out my window, I saw it over the bay -- beautiful, colorful, quiet. It came from the south and, at about 900 feet above the bay, turned northwest at Kayak Point-- lost behind the trees!
DATE: Aug. 9, 2005
TIME: 2:30-2:40 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Clinton, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
Psychedelic blimp spotted heading north and turning east over Possession Point, South Whidbey Island, Washington. Altitude probably 700-1,000 feet. I'm certain this is a blimp, because I grew up in suburban Akron, north of the Airship Dock, and used to watch the Navy blimps puttering around. This was late '50s & early '60s, before they became Goodyear Blimps. I once tried to build a small framed dirigible filled with low pressure air instead of gas. It didn't work, so there's no need to look for it.
DATE: Aug. 6, 2005
TIME: 11:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Everett, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
The Ameriquest blimp was maneuvering at Paine Field. First, it passed overhead as I parked the car at a few hundred feet, heading from midfield to the departure end of 16L and then back midfield. I grabbed the camera and got a great picture. Then, when I took off (in a Cessna 172) on runway 29, it seemed to be dead ahead. It was actually stationary at pattern altitude (1,600 feet), but several miles outside the pattern, over Clinton. As I passed abeam it headed back to the field and I didn't see it again. It was in radio contact with the tower, of course. Do blimps switch to ground frequency when they "land"?
DATE: July 28-31, 2005
TIME: Various Times
LOCATION: Everett, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Gayle
At first I thought I was having some sort of wasted-youth flashback - the colors and geometric shapes vaguely familiar and oddly bringing the odor of nag champa & patchouli to mind; but thanks to the BSB, I am assured that it was not a vision but the Ameriquest blimp that kept randomly showing up in the skies over western Washington. It appeared to be traveling at a much higher rate of speed than most of its ilk, and was banking tightly, going in wide, irregular circles. I suspect there are heavy partyers on board, and one can only guess at what's really going on up there! Thank you to the BSB for saving me from a life of self-doubt and endless conjecture.
DATE: July 31, 2005
TIME: 11:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tracy
Just saw the Ameriquest blimp headed north over Seattle. It's been here since last week and will remain here through next week, as we are having the Seafair celebration with Blue Angels and the Hydro Races. Each day, the blimp leaves Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and makes the 20-mile trip down and around Seattle for a few hours, over Mariners baseball games, parades, fairs. Next week, it will be over Seafair events. I watched it head back last night at like 10 p.m., and it sounded so cool! The cabin lights were on; but by the time I got my camera out, they were beyond my rooftop Seattle view. I'll try to gram some photos and post in the next few days, now that I know this site exists.
DATE: July 30, 2005
TIME: Noon PDT
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jordan
Beautiful day at Golden Gardens in Seattle. Slowly drifting by in the sky was the beautiful blimp. It circled for quite a while -- to the pleasure of the throngs of people on the beach.
DATE: July 29, 2005
TIME: 10:45 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Basic Tiff and Aims
The colorful blimp is in town for Seafair. Ameriquest has brought wonder and marvel to the night skies.
DATE: July 29, 2005
TIME: 6:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Rhias
I was leaving my workplace when I spotted the airship. She was flying at about 500 feet in the general vicinity of the Qwest Field sports stadium and making remarkably tight turns. I suspect that the operator may well have been using his well camouflaged ship to perform some sort of covert surveillance. Fortunately, I spotted the nearly invisible ship!
DATE: July 28 2005
TIME: 1:05 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Bellevue, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Basic "Groupies"
Spotted colorful blimp with no advertisements on it -- purple, green, yellow -- with an American flag tagging off the back. It flew right over our building and had a multitude of patterns and colors; sparked a debate on how to say "blimp" in Spanish. What is this mysterious creature?
DATE: July 27, 2005
TIME: 6:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Seattle and Everett, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Jill
It has been in the Seattle area since at least July 23: spotted heading to Paine Field Saturday; over Pacific Raceways in Kent and Auburn on Sunday (east of SeaTac). Yesterday, it circled the Greenwood parade (prelude to Seafair) and made at least six passes directly over our house.
DATE: July 26, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Everett, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Staff Sgt. Stevo
Came to Paine Field and took some good pics. Blimp is here in Seattle for Seafair.
DATE: July 25 2005
TIME: 9:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Everett, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Stevo
Road my bike to Paine Field (Boeing747,777,757) airport and saw the Ameriquest blimp. Cool colors and one of the largest airships in the world today.
DATE: July 24, 2005
TIME: 10:50 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Renton, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Samantha
The blimp flew right over my house. It was just before 11 this morning. It was headed south (Tacoma, perhaps). I'm just east of Seattle. It was such a crystal clear day. The colors of the blimp were extraordinary! Nothing in particular other than its direction and color; seemed to be traveling quickly. I had to rush to grab my camera. I have a couple pics if anyone's interested.
DATE: July 24, 2005
TIME: 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Kent, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
A very colorful blimp spent most of Saturday and Sunday over Pacific Raceways during the National Hot Rod Association races. I live next to the track and could hear the blimp all day. I was unable to identify the owner. Help?
DATE: July 21, 2005
TIME: 11:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Rich
Looking out my window at work in the north of downtown Seattle, we spotted the colorful blimp floating over Interstate Highway 5, heading south -- very bright colors that were vivid against the blue sky. Amazing!
DATE: July 19, 2005
TIME: 7:30 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Everett, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Robin
I saw what appeared to be a multi-colored airplane body peaking above the buildings at Paine Field, Everett. A drive around revealed the Ameriquest Blimp. It is beautiful! Yesterday it was in the air, but too far away. I understand it will be around for nearly a month to welcome in Seattle's Seafair.
DATE: July 18, 2005
TIME: 2:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Seattle, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Stevo
Younger brother called me in Utah to tell me he saw a crazy looking blimp over northeast Seattle.
DATE: July 18, 2005
TIME: 12:36 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Lynnwood, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Scot
Spotted the Soaring Dreams Airship (http://www.soaringdreams.org/sdairhome.html) heading north at 500-700 feet on what was likely approach to Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The schedule puts Soaring Dreams in the Seattle area quite often over the next month, so opportunities abound!
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 7:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Chehalis, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bob
From the Wal-Mart parking lot in Chehalis, we stood in amazement as we saw the multi-colored "mystery" blimp fly overhead. I have never seen anything like it. If Elton John and Austin Powers were to design a blimp, this would be it. A truly amazing sight.
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 7:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Kelso, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Larry
Blimp was traveling north at about 1,500 feet altitude. I suspect that it was probably headed to the Seattle area. This was a very psychedelic blimp. I have never seen one that looked like this before. It looked like something from the cover of a rock band album from the psychedelic era. Does any one know where there are pictures of psychedelic blimps? There can't be many of them around, and I am curious to learn more about this one.
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 6:20 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Kelso, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Cheri
Beautiful, brightly painted airship just passed overhead, heading north toward Seattle. We are located 24 miles directly west of Mount St. Helen's. I'm sure they had a superb view of our steaming mountain.
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 6:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Longview, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Carmen
Spotted the multi-colored Ameriquest Blimp headed north toward Seattle, Washington.
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 5:15 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Portland, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic "Dog Dave"
Saw the Ameriquest psychedelic blimp flying over Portland International Airport today; had to look it up on the net to see what it was, and found this site!
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 5:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Salem, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Stevo
Driving into Salt Lake, and older sister called to tell me that she saw a crazy-colored blimp going north on Interstate Highway 5. COOL!
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: Late Afternoon, PDT
LOCATION: Chehalis, Washington, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Chris
I heard a noise like other blimps that have visited our airport. I could see it from my deck, multi-colored, almost looked like a painted fish. I took pictures!
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 3:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Salem, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Basic Diane and Mike
My husband and I spotted and watched the blimp while it was docked at the Salem airport for re-fueling. You could see it from a great distance. I got pictures on my cell phone. It was wonderful and really funny watching the spotters run for safety as the blimp was taking off and subject to the wind. It finished fueling and was headed for Seattle. We were very impressed at the rate at which it can climb.
DATE: July 17, 2005
TIME: 12:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Corvallis (Benton County), Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic
Ruth
Airship was first observed crossing into the valley just south of the airport, on a northeast heading. The aid of binoculars did not reveal the identity of the suspicious yet conspicuous flying object, as it had no markings on its rather psychedelic background, other than some obscure geometric figures (circles, squares, wavy lines). Local rumors are that the Dead-Head pilot scored big in stocks when Starbucks went international, and is now in search of a new grassroots patch of grass.
Addendum: Forgot to mention in previous report of this sighting: altitude approximately 1,000 feet; possibly closer than it appeared, or possibly appeared closer than actual.
Obviously not being of the eastern states, perhaps I could establish myself as a remote correspondent or agent. SOMEONE has to keep a wary eye on our western skies! For though we are less populated here, we have abundant military no-fly restriction zones, meaning any possibilities for interesting flying space junk. I consider myself qualified, as I reside on one airport and work (second home) on another. So then, do I get an increase in rank for this special assignment?
I had a fabulous sighting last summer. Too bad I didn't know about this site then.
Absolutely, Ruth! Your obvious blimp-spotting and leadership talents merit an immediate field commission to the rank of second lieutenant. I hereby appoint you Blimp Spotters Brigade Deputy Director of the Greater Northwest, with all the responsibilities, rights and privileges inherent therein.
-- Gen. Abnes Carthen
(Editor's Note: See "News" for story)
DATE: July 16, 2005
TIME: 6:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Langlois, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Basic
Alpha, Martha and Wayne
Last week I, Alpha, spotted the big, Magical Mystery Blimp over Oakland, California. Today, we all saw it flying east over the coast range from Langlois, 13 miles south of Bandon, on Highway 101.
DATE: July 16, 2005
TIME: 5:49 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Port Orford, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic
Alice
We heard the blimp engine for some time. Eventually, we went out on our deck and spotted the Ameriquest blimp. The blimp was traveling north at about 2,000 feet along the coast slowly into a strong headwind so it was over head for awhile. I took a good telephoto picture of the blimp.
DATE: July 16, 2005
TIME: 5:45 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Port Orford, Oregon, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic
Ginelle
The blimp was flying north along the southern Oregon coast at a low altitude. Surface winds were very strong toward the south but it was still making good headway. The motors were clearly audible. The part of the blimp we saw was entirely covered in a somewhat psychedelic paint scheme with large fat circles, squares and triangles in purple, yellow, red, green, blue and maybe more colors. The gondola was painted yellow.
DATE: July 15, 2005
TIME: 5:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: McKinleyville, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic RC
Colorful! Ameriquest blimp: altitude, zero: speed, zero; pointed north. Suspect operator stopped for dinner.
DATE: July 14, 2005
TIME: 4:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: McKinleyville, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Rick
 We saw the psychedelic blimp! Headed north; suspiciously low. Maybe it landed at the local airport? We even took a picture! |
DATE: July 12, 2005
TIME: 5:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Arcata, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ward
Flew over Beau Pre golf course; I have no idea how high.
DATE: July 12, 2005
TIME: 4:15 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: near Ferndale ( over Pacific coast), California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ron
Loud engine noise, wow, trippy colors, north heading. this dude saw us outside waving and stopped to hover, I think. Ah yes, the Psychedelic Blimp.
DATE: July 12, 2005
TIME: 11:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Gualala, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Isabeau
Saw a blimp this morning! Heading north along the coast (literally; I think it may have been over the ocean, though I'm not sure); no clue about altitude. Very colorful thing, circles and triangles and squares in various bright colors. There was no advertising or logo that I could see. Very cool sight, but I'm still trying to figure out why it was here!
Addendum: This is not a spotting report so much as information: The psychedelic mystery blimp that was spotted over Texas, Oakland, and points north, is the Ameriquest "Soaring Dreams" airship (information at http://www.soaringdreams.org/), which is at the moment heading from Oakland to WA.
DATE: July 12, 2005
TIME: 11:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Windsor, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Stevo
Down here on vacation and heard from a couple that a blimp was in town. So, went to the Windsor airport and saw the Ameriquest (crazy colors) blimp there. AWESOME!
DATE: July 12, 2005
TIME: 10:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Timber Cove (Sonoma County), California, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Altitude very low, close to shore; could here engines -- very low roar. Felt I could almost hit with rock, it was so close; was moving very slow, 10-20 miles per hour. Watched very long time from bluff.
DATE: July 8, 2005
TIME: 11:55 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Rosa, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Marie
Multi-colored (Ameriquest?) blimp flew over my house in Northwest Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. It appeared to fly to the airport, which is about 6 miles north of us.
DATE: July 7, 2005
TIME: 12:22 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Jose, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Chris
Plain silver blimp flying northwest, probably over Milpitas area. Approximately 750 feet altitude. Unlike my previous report (see below), I judge this one's intention is pure surveillance.
DATE: July 5, 2005
TIME: 2:35 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Sacramento, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Tina
We were all drawn to the window when an amazing psychedelic airship went by with no name or logo. It was heading from northwest to southeast, bobbling in the thermals, and passed over the capitol building in downtown Sacramento. Thanks to your web site, we were able to determine it was the Ameriquest Portraits of Hope Soaring Dreams Project airship -- very inspiring!
DATE: July 5, 2005
TIME: 10:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Sacramento, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Robbin
The Ameriquest Mortgage blimp has been flying over Sacramento the last few days and more notably the State Capitol (Governor Arnold was in town diligently working on the budget.) It was also featured in an article in the Sacramento Bee today. According to the Sacramento Bee article part of the blimp was painted by local school kids. Great blimp, nice backdrop of it flying over the Capitol. Does a mortgage company have anything to do with the budget getting signed?
DATE: July 3 and 4, 2005
TIME: 11:00 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Stockton, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Edward
Seen flying all around Stockton, circling the downtown area. It was great.
DATE: July 4, 2005
TIME: 3:25 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Sacramento, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Amanda
I saw the multi-colored, psychedelic blimp circling over where the Sacramento and American rivers meet, almost right above our house.
DATE: July 2 and 4, 2005
TIME: 1 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Stockton, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Dodd
I saw it Saturday, heading north; and Monday, heading south.
DATE: July 2, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Lodi, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Bill
The colorful blimp is the Ameriquest Mortgage Company "Soaring Dreams." It was at the Oakland A's game on July 1; now in this area (Lodi/Stockton) for the 4th of July Waterfest. Then, it is on to Sacramento for Sky Tours on the 5th and 6th. The blimp was hand-painted by 5,000 children. Information is available on the Ameriquest Mortgage web site.
DATE: June 29, 2005
TIME: 1:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Francisco, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Anne-Olivia
This colorful wonder in the sky must be the fastest moving blimp I have ever seen; and that turning radius is amazing!
DATE: June 27, 2005
TIME: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Oakland and Alameda, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Teresa
OH MY GOD. It was the most brilliant thing I have ever seen in the sky. I was on my daily walk at the Oakland Estuary and up in the sky was the most colorful, vivid, funnest blimp on earth! I got so excited I was talking to myself: "What the...? Is that a BLIMP? That is the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life!" I went by to work and sent out an all staff email about the colorful airship, for which I got reprimanded. It was worth it. I was more excited than a kid on a candy store. Please come back to Oakland, blimp of many colors. Make it your place of residence!
DATE: June 25, 2005
TIME: 1:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Francisco, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Basic Theresa
Saw that colorful blimp that my husband saw in Oakland last week. In the sky. No ads on it.
DATE: June 23, 2005
TIME: 2:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Jose, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Chris
Spotted the Ameriquest Mortgage airship "Liberty" out my office window, just east of the San Jose airport. The blimp made several passes, likely strafing traffic on the US Highway 101 freeway, which runs nearby. The blimp was at approximately 400 feet altitude, although the pilot appeared to be adjusting the elevators quite severely.
DATE: June 23, 2005
TIME: 2:26 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Jose, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Laura
Holy hallucinations, Batman! It's heading back around! It must have gone full circle and is pointing toward Highway 880. There's a jet about to take off just below it!
DATE: June 23, 2005
TIME: 2:23 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Jose, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Laura
Holy hallucinations! It's back! Floating over San Jose International Airport in all its glory!
DATE: June 23, 2005
TIME: 2:10 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: San Jose, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Laura
It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's the Magical Mystery Blimp Tour! It just floated by San Jose International Airport just a few minutes ago in its splendor and drifted away toward First Street and the hills.
DATE: June 22, 2005
TIME: 3:10 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Oakland, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
I saw the blimp near Oakland Coliseum, at about 400-500 feet altitude, heading south, directly over Highway 880.
DATE: June 22, 2005
TIME: 12:15 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Hayward, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Diane
I saw the psychedelic blimp that was recently spotted in Texas above my house in California today. Gorgeous!
DATE: June 22, 2005
TIME: 10:57 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Oakland, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Van
The blimp was coming from Oakland Coliseum, going toward the bay bridge. It turned around and went back toward the coliseum. What is with the amazing colors? It looked like a big fish in the sky.
DATE: June 22, 2005
TIME: 10-10:49 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Oakland, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Starzo
I was walking during my break with two co-workers when I saw the blimp. It was coming from the Oakland Coliseum going toward the Oakland Airport
DATE: June 19, 2005
TIME: Afternoon
LOCATION: San Leandro, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Starzo
I was gardening in my front yard when I saw it. I got my husband, and he also saw it.
DATE: June 18, 2005
TIME: Early Afternoon
LOCATION: Fremont, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Kat
H
We don't see too many blimps -- not the kind that sail in the sky anyway -- in my part of Canada; so I was very excited to watch it -- which we did for a while. I soon noticed the incredible art work on the blimp. I paint in a similar style -- very bright colors, very graphic. It looked like it had been painted by someone trapped in the sixties.
I loved it, and I loved the fact that we could see no advertising on the blimp and were left pondering who could have devised such an inventive non-advertising campaign. Also, as we watched, we noticed the totally erratic path of the blimp -- all over the place like it was driven by someone on some form of mood altering substance; very cool.
So, I thought I would try and find out about it on the web and viola!: here is your site; awesome. Keep up the great work!
DATE: June 17, 2005
TIME: 5:30 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Maria, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Marshal
I was in SANTA MARIA, CA and there it was! I saw it while I was eating crab cakes at the airport Radisson restaurant. It was on the ground across the way and when I asked the waiter what it was he said "we've been trying to figure it out ourselves." All he could say was "Looks weird, doesn't it?" Yeah, it did! All colorful and funky, like the guy who painted it was on LSD or something. Interestingly enough, I spoke with one of the hotel staff, and was told that the weird blimp's crew spent the night at the hotel and they said that it was the Ameriquest blimp, "Soaring Dreams, that "represents the hopes and dreams of children everywhere.
DATE: June 17, 2005
TIME: 1:25 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Barbara, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ben
I live on a bluff here in Santa Barbara, facing the ocean and the Channel Islands. My 4-year-old said "Daddy, what's that"?! I saw the blimp about 1.5 miles offshore, so I could see it well, but no colors. When I got my binoculars out, I thought I had been thrown back to the '60s. Very cool.
DATE: June 17, 2005
TIME: 10:26 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Santa Ana, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ruth
Heard a loud sound in the sky, looked up, and watched it come out out the south east skies heading northwest, altering to direct west around the 405 freeway in Huntington Beach. Cool blimp!
DATE: June 12, 2005
TIME: 3:00 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Riverside, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic "LC"
Unknown altitude; traveling southwest. My dog, Punky, started barking wildly at the sky. My horses that were out in the arena would not take their eyes off of the blimp. It was the most exciting thing in our lives for days!
DATE: May 3, 2005
TIME: 8:30 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Carson, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Jeff
Saw the Goodyear blimp "Spirit of America" parked and attached to its moorings, as I do almost every weekday morning, as I pass it on the freeway on the way to work.
DATE: April 22, 2005
TIME: 8:30 a.m. PDT
LOCATION: Long Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Jeff
I was driving to work this morning and passed Long Beach Airport. Sitting next to the runway was a big multi-colored blimp. It had no writing on it, it was just painted purple, yellow, green, orange and blue, maybe more colors, but it looked like an abstract painting. Very nice.
DATE: April
11, 2005
TIME: 12 noon PDT
LOCATION: Long Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Stevea
Most colorful blimp ever. Wow! Wow! I think its all painted by kids! See L.A. Times article in California section today!!!!! Wow it is amazing!!! See it to believe it.
DATE: April
2, 2005
TIME: 1 p.m. PDT
LOCATION: Los Angeles, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Benny
Ameriquest Blimp at Dodgers Stadium.
DATE: February 28, 2005
TIME: 8:30 a.m. MST
LOCATION: Glendale Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Ken and Susan
We saw the Sanyo Blimp landing or touching down at the Glendale Airport.
DATE: February 28, 2005
TIME: 10 a.m. MST
LOCATION: Chandler, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Owen
I spotted the Sanyo blimp down near the Chandler or Gilbert area in the south valley of Phoenix. I was wondering if anyone knew what it was up to. Spring training baseball hasn't yet started, so I'm not sure what it was up to.
DATE: February 27, 2005
TIME: 4 p.m. MST
LOCATION: Chandler, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basics Ken and Susan
(Visiting Phoenix area from Massachusetts)
We saw the Sanyo Blimp over the Wild Horse Casino, Chandler.
DATE: February 12 and 13, 2005
TIME: not reported
LOCATION: La Verne, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tazerman
The Ameriquest Ship, in its red, white and blue pattern, was circling the Winternationals at the Los Angeles County Fairplex, Pomona, La Verne. Sure looked great.
DATE: December 24, 2004
TIME: 10:00 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Long Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Harbuck
Saw the Saturn Lightship heading toward the Long Beach Airport.
DATE: December 1, 2004
TIME: 8:25 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Laguna Niguel, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Austin
I came out of my drive way in Laguna Niguel, Calif., and I was looking west toward my car. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw what seemed to be a shooting star; but it did not fade away. It was a big light that traveled as fast as a shooting star but kept going, fully lit, until it went behind the hill in front of my house. I have never seen anything like this, I thought is would be reported but no one has seen it. Help me please.
DATE: November 15, 2004
TIME: 7:00 p.m. PST
LOCATION: Palm Springs, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Gary
I was leaving my office in Palm Springs on a dinner break when I spotted a strange illumination in the sky to the east. At first I thought it was the landing lights of an approaching airliner, but after several minutes the position of the light in the sky did not seem to move. So, I traveled east toward the light into Cathedral City.
The object was a little larger, but still indistinguishable, although I began to suspect it was either a blimp or one of the desert Southwest's infamous UFOs. After attaining some nourishment courtesy of Carl's Jr., I headed further east.
As I approached the northern edge of Rancho Mirage, I was obvious the mysterious glow was indeed a lighter than air ship, and it was headed my direction. As our paths intersected, the Sanyo Lightship was just on the edge of Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City.
When last seen, the blimp was heading northwest and appeared to be somewhere over Desert Hot Springs heading for points unknown.
DATE: October 20, 2004
TIME: 1:48 p.m. MDST
LOCATION: Goodyear, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Lizann
The Ameriquest blimp just flew directly over the top of our house. We heard a strange sound, and ran outside. There it was, right above our heads, about 300 feet up in the air. It was traveling east, southeast towards the Goodyear airport near the Estrella Mountains. I think the pilot was headed toward the airport.
DATE: October 18, 2004
TIME: 7:30 p.m. WDST
LOCATION: South San Francisco, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Marcel
I saw the blimp flying south what appeared to be along the lines of the Caltrain railroad tracks. I saw it from South San Francisco, and it got harder to see the further south it got. I was surprised to see a blimp, at night when no night games were being played. Also, it was raining and cloudy, it was our official big storm of the winter.
DATE: April 26, 2004
TIME: 3:40 p.m. MDST
LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Eric
In downtown Phoenix, from my office window, I saw the Saturn Ion Blimp repetitively circle near the downtown area for over 20 minutes in the general area of the intersection of Interstate Highway10, State Highway 51 and State Highway 202.
DATE: January 24, 2004
TIME: 11 a.m. PST
LOCATION: Redondo Beach, California, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jeff
I was sitting at home when, all of a sudden, I heard this loud, high-pitched engine noise. I got up, went outside and looked up. To my amazement, there was the Fuji Film blimp, heading east, right above my head very very low! I could see every marking very clearly!
DATE: Feb. 14, 2003
TIME: 9 a.m.
LOCATION: Livermore, Calif., USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bill
I saw the Saturn Blimp getting ready to take off at the Livermore Airport heading for Southern California. Blimp tail Number: N441ZP. Please check out my blimp fans page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blimp_operations/
DATE: June 27, 2002
TIME: 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Oakland, Calif., USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Myrna
The blimp was going in the direction of downtown Oakland. Then it turned around and was headed in the same direction that I was going in which was East towards the hills by Lake Merrit. And much to my surprise, it hovered over my building. I wonder who this pilot is or how to find out.
DATE: April 18, 2002
TIME: 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Alameda City, Calif., USA
SPOTTER: Gen. Abnes Carthen
Having retired for the evening with a bit of scotch, I turned my eyes to the far western skies, always on the alert, as I am, for infiltration from the skies over the glorious Pacific Ocean. There in front of me against the quickly fading sunlight, moving stealthily and--from my perspective--seemingly silently was a blimp. I followed it with my eyes and saw it circle the Oakland International Airport several times before it finally grew too dark for me to monitor its route.
Although blimps often maneuver at night -- and certain fiendish groups are known to perform their dry runs under cover of darkness -- this one had no lights whatsoever to either guide it on its path or aid other aircraft in sighting it. This can only lead me to suspect its purposes were of ill intent.
I will check all western contacts for news of any activity among the known ne'er-do-well groups. Should my silence grow long before reporting back, assume I have gone undercover.
DATE: May 17, 2001
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Marina Del Rey, Calif., USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Casey
Well, it appeared to be a mirage at first. It was light yellow with red lines and had sinister markings on the side that spelled out "Free Rent." I watched it for some time, when I noticed that it seemed to be trying to lift a building off the ground with a large rope that was tied to the bottom of the blimp. At this point, I lost site of the unidentified blimp as my car turned a corner. I'll try to make another visual contact to see if the blimp carried off the building.
DATE: Sept. 8, 2000
TIME: 2:15 p.m.
LOCATION: San Francisco Bay area
SPOTTER: Brig. Gen. Abnes Carthen
Thar she blows!
The large, blue, yellow and gray inflatable has been sighted overhead moving in a northwesterly direction.
DATE: Nov. 1, 2000
TIME: 9:18 a.m.
LOCATION: San Francisco Bay area
SPOTTER: Maj. Gen. Abnes Carthen
After a long and conspicuous absence, the blimps have returned. Oddly, the blimp I noted stayed curiously away from directly over my head. I will watch for further activity today
DATE: Dec. 14, 2000
TIME: 9:02 p.m.
LOCATION: Las Vegas, Nevada
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Steve
I was walking to the convenience store from my sister's house to get some beer. And, there is was, the Vegas.com blimp. It was moving slowly, like most blimps do, going up and down the strip.