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What's odd about this blimp?

By The Armorer on March 23, 2006 | | Comments (9)

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Make your guess.

Then click here.

Did that change your mind any?

No?

Okay. Click here.

Betcha thought it was more like this, dincha?

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9 Comments

By cw4(ret)billt on March 23, 2006 7:42 AM
The mylar skin was a dead giveaway and the dinky little landing gear confirmed it.
 
By homebru on March 23, 2006 9:39 AM
First was the lack of national markings. Then the dinky landing gear. Then the unusual orientation of the tail feathers (not hor/vert). And then, of course, the mylar skin. The short cabin height with no windows was another point.
 
By cw4(ret)billt on March 23, 2006 10:28 AM
homebru - The empennage orientation means it's modelled after a post-1975 style blimp versus the classic WWII design. Here's an interesting shot demonstrating the difference...
 
By cw4(ret)billt on March 23, 2006 10:40 AM
Here's one for the bubbleheads. The Dutch Walrus(2) class attack sub has an other-than-cruciform butt, too...
 
By Neffi on March 23, 2006 3:06 PM
I was gonna say the thing wrong with the blimp was that it wasn't out looking for old artillery to paw over... but on second thought, I won't. snerk
 
By cw4(ret)billt on March 23, 2006 3:51 PM
Heh. 'Fess up, Neffi--your folks let you play with matches when you were a kid, didn't they...
 
By Neffi on March 23, 2006 5:27 PM
Well, no Chief- they didn't perzackly *let* me. But where there's a will, etc. Such fortitude and persistence has gotten me where I am today. Gotta go! They're ringing the chow bell and if yer late you get no fruit cup!!
 
By homebru on March 23, 2006 7:32 PM
Well, there's my "learn something new" for the day. Still looks like it would unnecessarily complicate the control rigging. But I can see that it would help minimize damage to the lower rudder during ground handling.
 
By Blake Kirk on March 24, 2006 9:05 AM
The US Navy operated at least one sub with an "x" configuration tail. USS Albacore (AGSS-569), a conventionally-powered experimental submarine which operated from 1953 to 1971 was fitted with an "X" empennage as part of her fourth major refit. The highly streamlined Albacore pioneered the hull form and many of the major operating systems, including the towed sonar array, now used on US Navy subs. After being retired from fleet service, Albacore was donated to a memorial association and installed in a dry berth in Portsmouth, NH, where she now serves as a museum. See a photo here.
 
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