What is it like to fly the blimp?
The blimp has a life of its own in the air. Its movements are slow and ponderous, and yet it reacts very intimately to air currents and thermals. It can take several seconds for the ship to respond to the pilot’s commands, and as a result, blimp pilots soon develop a feel that helps them counteract the blimp’s inclination to aimless meanderings. The control surfaces are as big as barn doors, they are not power-assisted. On a turbulent day, the pilot might find himself half standing in the seat as he lays both feet onto one big rudder pedal to force the ship into a turn. For the most part the blimp is a relaxing joy to fly. The slow cruise speed is a special treat for a pilot used to fixed-wing flight, since he can gaze out and observe the passing landscape in much finer detail.
