Army tests spy blimp over N.J.

bleedlikeme · 08-09-12 at 11:44 PM

LAKEHURST — The biggest aircraft to cruise the skies over Ocean County since the golden age of airship travel more than 70 years ago is a high-tech spy blimp for the Army.

Scores of eyewitnesses on the ground Tuesday around Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst watched as the Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle, or LEMV, soared above them for more than 90 minutes during a test cruise.

At a cost of $517 million, the airship is intended to be a high altitude observation platform — an “unblinking eye” as program backers have called it — to provide total battlefield surveillance in places such as Afghanistan. The ship also has some heavy-lift cargo capability and can operate with a crew or by remote control, according to Northrop Grumman, its manufacturer.

The test flight conducted Tuesday included a crew aboard, said John H. Cummings, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.

At 302 feet in length, the LEMV is the largest military airship built since the 1950s. The dirigible is more than 100 feet longer than the Goodyear Blimp, and the MZ-3A, the Navy research airship, which at a length of 174 feet has been a common sight over Ocean County this summer.

However, the LEMV is still not even half the length of the ill-fated Hindenburg, which was 804 feet in length. The Nazi-era German Zeppelin crashed and disintegrated in flames at Lakehurst on May 6, 1937, killing 36 people. However, the LEMV’s lifting gas is helium, not the combustible hydrogen that destroyed the Hindenburg 75 years ago.

The Army’s airship has an airborne capability of up to 21 days aloft at altitudes of up to 22,000 feet, feeding information into the Army’s battlefield command and control networks.

The primary objective of its maiden voyage was to perform a safe launch and recovery, with a secondary objective to test the airship’s flight control system operation, Cummings said.

Additional first flight objectives included airworthiness testing and demonstration, and system level performance verification. All the mission objectives were met during the first flight, Cummings said.

The Northrop Grumman program has been happening out of public view in one of the World War II-era airship hangars on the Lakehurst side of the Joint Base.

Danny Barbour spotted this blimp from Jackson on Tuesday, as it flew over the Lakehurst section of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The blimp was escorted by helicopters, he said. / Photo Courtesy Danny Barbour

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http://www.app.com/article/20120808/NJNEWS/308080035/New-spy-airship-tested-over-N-J-?nclick_check=1

**MacFalic** · 08-10-12 at 01:27 AM

You win Alexi, for one of the most inane replies.

Could have, would have, should have. Same old bleeding heart judgmental declaration. Think outside the box; lighter-than-air ships produce comparatively little air pollution.

Dating back before WWI there have been science fiction stories about lighter than air travel. Until the Hindenburg that is.

**tomandsusan** · 08-10-12 at 06:40 AM

Ahhhhhhh Grasshoppas, the one with the biggest gun sits at the head of the table! Big Brother is always watching!

(oh yeah, maybe we can use the money to feed the hungry and clothe the poor----

**viscera** · 08-10-12 at 06:42 AM

I guess it didint work if we have pictures and an article about it.

**EvilToeKnee** · 08-10-12 at 07:15 AM

Better yet, the money could have been used to donate to Tehparadox server costs. And yes, before anyone points out, I haven't made a donation yet. I promise you I will. I enjoy this community too much not to.

**usiel** · 08-10-12 at 10:50 AM

Wow New Jersey? Isn't one of their cities facing soooo much cuts in their Police Department that crimes has freaking skyrocketed? Wait....New Jersey? Blimps? I've seen this before....what was based in New Jersey again? OH YA CRAP!

GOTHAM CITY!

hydral1k · 08-10-12 at 02:10 PM

... why don't they just bring back the U2?

**L1b3rta** · 08-10-12 at 02:20 PM

Lol, very witty Usiel. ^_^

dannie9 · 08-10-12 at 02:51 PM

what a bloody waste of money

**Oamey** · 08-10-12 at 02:57 PM

It'll save money in the long run if it works out. These things can transport massive amounts of goods and hang in the air for weeks at a time for a fraction of the cost of traditional army freight carriers. Plus they're kind of cool. I mean. It's a giant floating ship.

**usiel** · 08-10-12 at 03:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Oamey

It'll save money in the long run if it works out. These things can transport massive amounts of goods and hang in the air for weeks at a time for a fraction of the cost of traditional army freight carriers. Plus they're kind of cool. I mean. It's a giant floating ship.

You're right.... so right...

This isn't a design for Gothom City. It's the start to prepare for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse!

08-10-12 at 01:27 AM	#2
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 838	You win Alexi, for one of the most inane replies. Could have, would have, should have. Same old bleeding heart judgmental declaration. Think outside the box; lighter-than-air ships produce comparatively little air pollution. Dating back before WWI there have been science fiction stories about lighter than air travel. Until the Hindenburg that is.

08-10-12 at 06:40 AM	#3
tomandsusan Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Never Never Land Posts: 5,739	Ahhhhhhh Grasshoppas, the one with the biggest gun sits at the head of the table! Big Brother is always watching! (oh yeah, maybe we can use the money to feed the hungry and clothe the poor----

08-10-12 at 06:42 AM	#4
viscera High Speed Low Drag Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA/OR Posts: 3,975	I guess it didint work if we have pictures and an article about it.

08-10-12 at 07:15 AM	#5
EvilToeKnee 3rd Street Saint Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 770	Better yet, the money could have been used to donate to Tehparadox server costs. And yes, before anyone points out, I haven't made a donation yet. I promise you I will. I enjoy this community too much not to.

08-10-12 at 10:50 AM	#6
usiel Master Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,120	Wow New Jersey? Isn't one of their cities facing soooo much cuts in their Police Department that crimes has freaking skyrocketed? Wait....New Jersey? Blimps? I've seen this before....what was based in New Jersey again? OH YA CRAP! GOTHAM CITY!

08-10-12 at 02:10 PM	#7
hydral1k Newcomer Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 69	... why don't they just bring back the U2?

08-10-12 at 02:20 PM	#8
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,985	Lol, very witty Usiel. ^_^

08-10-12 at 02:51 PM	#9
dannie9 Expert Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 640	what a bloody waste of money

08-10-12 at 02:57 PM	#10
Oamey Professional Garden Gnome Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Posts: 200	It'll save money in the long run if it works out. These things can transport massive amounts of goods and hang in the air for weeks at a time for a fraction of the cost of traditional army freight carriers. Plus they're kind of cool. I mean. It's a giant floating ship.

08-10-12 at 03:25 PM	#11
usiel Master Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,120	Quote: Originally Posted by Oamey It'll save money in the long run if it works out. These things can transport massive amounts of goods and hang in the air for weeks at a time for a fraction of the cost of traditional army freight carriers. Plus they're kind of cool. I mean. It's a giant floating ship. You're right.... so right... This isn't a design for Gothom City. It's the start to prepare for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse!