Alumnus-Maintained Blimp Makes Big Splash During Little League

Penn College aviation students were invited by 1997 aviation technology alumnus James Weed to visit the DirecTV blimp, which he maintains. The students were able to board the gondola to get a close look at the instruments and controls. The blimp is equipped with two 180-horsepower Lycoming engines and a high-definition camera. Operated by the Van Wagner Airship Group, the blimp is in town to provide aerial television coverage of the Little League Baseball World Series.
Photos by Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of avionics