I flew in a BLIMP from Boston to New York City for seven hours, WITH NO BATHROOM
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s an airship!
A YouTube creator who flew from Boston to New York City in an airship shared the pros and cons of the seven-hour journey, from the stunning views to the lack of a toilet.
Content creator from the US Michael Downie embarked on a different kind of journey into the air.
He signed up for a flight in an airship from Massachusetts to New York and documented the entire event on his channel.
In a video describing his journey, one of the pilots told him the ship was called an American Blimp A-170 and was “about 170,000 cubic feet” in size.
When Michael boarded the plane, he quickly discovered that the cabin interior was quite basic and that there was no bathroom on board.
YouTube creator Michael Downie embarked on a different kind of aerial journey after signing up for a ride on an airship from Boston to New York
He told viewers that he was aware of this and that was why he had not had anything to drink that morning and had gone to the toilet twice before his seven o’clock flight.
‘I should be good to get you through the six to eight hours. I really don’t want to know what happens if you don’t make it,’ the content creator mused.
Throughout the journey, the airship offered wonderful views through its large windows.
As they soared over a rural area, Michael panned the camera and said, “We’ve got loads of leg room and we’re flying along smoothly, at about 1,000 feet.”
‘As we sail towards the coast, we can enjoy the view below us.
“This is a unique perspective. We’re a lot lower and slower than an airplane, so we actually get to see a lot more.”
In one scene, Michael explains that there was a wheel on the side of the pilot’s seat that controlled the “downward position of the rear rudders, allowing them to point up and down.”
Meanwhile, foot pedals were used to steer the balloon left and right.
In a video describing his journey, one of the pilots told him the ship was called an American Blimp A-170 and was “about 170,000 cubic feet”
Throughout the journey the airship offered wonderful views through its large windows
Michael discussed the history of airships, noting that while they are mainly used for marketing purposes today, in the past they were used for passenger transport.
Michael said that flying an airship was “quite simple,” but he also noted that it required constant attention because “the slightest gust of wind could blow us off course.”
For this reason, the airship was manned by several pilots who took turns every few hours.
As for speed, one of the pilots noted that the airship can reach a speed of 56 kilometers per hour with no wind, but “you never have no wind at all.”
Michael touched on the history of airships, noting that while today they are mainly used for marketing purposes (Goodyear being the best-known example), in the past they were mainly used for passenger transport.
One of the pilots confirmed this fact, adding: ‘It was really after the First World War, you know, when they were thinking about using them for passenger transport.
“I mean, they flew across the Atlantic. I mean, the first plane to fly around the world was an airship.”
In the past, hydrogen was used to lift airships, but today helium is used because it is a safe and inert gas.
As they flew over the villages below, Michael told his viewers: ‘If you’re watching this and you ever see an airship in the sky, please wave… we’d certainly appreciate it if you waved from here.’
As for speed, one of the pilots noted that the airship can reach 35 miles per hour in dead calm, but “you never have no wind”
As they continued on their way, Manhattan gradually came into view
Once underway, Michael and the crew had to make a brief stop to rebalance the airship.
Michael explained that on longer flights, ground crews have to add weight to the aircraft to compensate for the weight of the fuel burned.
As they continued on their way, Manhattan slowly came into view.
As they passed several landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, Michael seemed overwhelmed by the unique view the airship provided.
He told viewers, “We’re sailing down the Hudson River [with] Manhattan to our left in an airship… that’s all I have to say. I’m pretty much speechless.
‘Honestly, after a long day in the air, I can’t think of a better way to end this flight than with a beautiful cruise along the Hudson River, past the impressive Manhattan skyline.’
To date, Michael’s YouTube channel detailing his airship journey has been viewed over 219,000 times, with many viewers thanking him for sharing the “fun” and “cool” experience.