AFFTC to get a Zeppelin?

Hopefully everyone knows that Groom Lake is Detachment 3 (DET 3) of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at Edwards Air Force base. [I believe Glenn Campbell gets credit for that discovery.] Checking the government solicitations, AFFTC is investigating getting a NT-07 Zeppelin (I nearly wrote blimp!).

Qualitative Evaluation Flights on a NT-07 Zeppelin
Solicitation Number: FA9302-12-M-L015

The AFFTC Contracting Directorate, Edwards Air Force Base, CA is seeking to purchase the following service via an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity:


Qualitative Evaluation Flights on a NT-07 Zeppelin.

Read attached PWS Dated 27 Feb 2012 for performance requirements

Estimated Period of performance 09 APR 2012 to 30 JUNE 2012

You can go to
www.fbo.gov...
and check out
FA9302-12-M-L015
but the documents don't really reveal all that much.

Manufacturer's website:
zeppelintours.com...#/zeppelin-nt07/4529232024

No doubt this will cause rumors of the "stealth blimp" again. I'm not 100% sure a zeppelin made entirely out of composites (which this one is close to but not quite there) would be invisible to radar. The gas in the chamber is a different density than the atmosphere, so it might show up on the "proper" radar. Never underestimate electronic countermeasures. Geeky instrumentation can ruin a flyboys day.

reply to post by gariac


So they get the "Big Eye".

I'm amazed they haven't thought of it already.

It's amateuer hour at the DoD.

It turns out Edwards AFB made a similar request in 2010. Here is the contract number.

FA9302-11-M-L003

Only one interested vendor and no recorder of a reward.

ARIA INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
9040 SOUTH RITA RD, STE 2360
TUCSON, AZ 857479159 USA

Their website is offline:
www.aria-int.com...

The DoD have been using tethered blimps or zeppelins for years for radar. I don't recall much manned lighter than air aircraft, but then again, that is why AFFTC exists.

There is one of these zeps at KNUQ.
www.wired.com...
It has been doing tourist flights for some time, but apparently NASA now has (or maybe had for a long time) instrumentation on it. It should be N704LZ, as in Led Zeppelin.

Same request again.
www.fbo.gov...

If the link above doesn't work, try the main page here:
www.fbo.gov...

Look for solicitation number FA9302-13-M-L003

This is a contract reward:
DESC: INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT, AIRSHIP VENTURE, INC.

Airship Venture runs these around the San Francisco Bay Area for tours.

reply to post by gariac


I saw an article, I think it was on Flight, that the Pelican airship is about to start flight testing (oops, was AvWeek).
www.blimpinfo.com...

You guys think it's a cover to start flight testing this bad boy???
www.darpa.mil...

galaxyblimps.com...

I found this company as an interested vendor in another government solicitation. I see advertising blimps quite often. I wonder if it will come to the point in the US where that blimp advertising Chevy is actually looking for marijuana patches? It isn't like a spy blimp needs this painted on the side to be legal: