Despicablimp in St. Louis: Extreme Walk-Around Tour

By Carmelo Turdo

Mark Nankivil photo

The Despicablimp is in the middle of its stay at St. Louis Regional Airport this week, casting its conspicuous shadow on the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.  The Despicablimp, named "Stuart," is on tour across the country promoting the movie, Despicable Me 2, and is currently making stops throughout the Midwest.  Media flights were conducted yesterday, and today The Aero Experience was given a detailed tour of the blimp as it remained moored for the day in the grass inside the gate across from the F-4C Phantom II on display.  The Despicablimp, piloted by Mr. Allan Judd, a Swiss-born, 20-year veteran of airship flying, is a 1997 American Blimp Corporation A-1-50 Lightship N152VW (s/n 102).  The 165-foot blimp contains a volume of 150,000 cubic feet of helium, and it can carry up to nine passengers at speeds of 35-55mph depending on wind conditions.  Despicablimp is powered by two very reliable 4-cylinder 180hp Lycoming IO-360 engines with five constant-speed/reversible propellers.   An internal lighting system is available to illuminate the artwork on the skin for night viewing.  The banner artwork can be 118' x 28' on each side, with 32 shades of translucent material available.  The blimp will carry the current artwork through September, unless the current contract is extended.  Check out this fascinating video on the preparation of Despicablimp! 

Crewman Russell Whittaker shows how the ropes are used to guide the blimp towards the mooring mast, and then how they are secured to the side of the blimp. The mooring mast is secured by four-foot stakes driven into the ground by a hydraulic stake driver.

The gondola is a very basic, functional design that provides passenger window seats and framework for the cockpit, ballast and propulsion. Russell Whittaker shows the camera mount capability of the blimp when used for sporting events along with the 25lb. ballast bags and the propulsion and air compression system that keeps the blimp buoyant as the helium expands and contracts.

 

Special thanks to Crewman Russell Whittaker and the staff at St. Louis Regional Airport for their hospitality and assistance in making this walk-around tour possible.