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Unforgettable 4th of July: Ride the World’s Largest Zeppelin

Cash for your car

Avoid the hassle of crowds and getting stuck in traffic to see fireworks this year by simply floating above it all to get a once in a lifetime encounter.  Experience this 4th of July firework show like never before: literally in-the-sky-front-row seats while soaring 1000 feet above the Pacific Coast aboard the Airship Ventures Zeppelin-NT Eureka.  Usually based in the San Fransisco Bay, taking up to 12 passengers on ‘flightseeing tours’ of San Fransisco, Silicon Valley and Monterey, Eureka has made a special 8 hour voyage to offer Los Angelenos flights from July 3-7th with the highlight being a two-hour Independence Day firework flight to revel in 360 degree panoramic views of the numerous firework shows along the LA coastline.

Up Up and Away

Eureka's Ready to Go Up, Up and Away!

Fly Like an Eagle
The fireworks flight is one of many tours offered during the Zeppelin’s six-day excursion to Los Angeles, which also include one and two-hour flightseeing tours and private charters. Flightseeing experiences offer magnificent views of Southern California landmarks, such as the historic Queen Mary, Long Beach Harbor, the Sunset Strip, the Hollywood sign, as well as sweeping vistas of the Pacific Coast from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica.

Smooth Sailing
At 246 feet in length, Airship Ventures’ Eureka is the world’s largest airship—15 feet longer than a Boeing 747, and dwarfing the largest blimp by more than 50 feet. One of only three Zeppelins currently operating in the world, it is an incredible opportunity not to be missed.  The takeoff feels about as tumultuous as going up in an elevator as she rises vertically within seconds and the ride is what one imagines as serene and quiet as floating on a cloud.  Once the airship has taken off, you’re free to roam around, enjoy the 180-degree rear loveseat in the back, or even stick your head out like a dog riding in a car and feel the breeze whipping your hair.  (Don’t worry about losing a limb by sticking your hand out of the airship’s window, her fastest speed is 77 mph and cruising speed is 35 mph)

Enjoying the Fresh Air and Views at 1000 feet

Enjoying the Fresh Air and Views at 1000 feet

Fly Fearless
No need to have safety concerns about riding in the Zeppelin.  Modern day airships, unlike the Zeppelin in the Hindenberg accident of 1937, use non-flammable helium, a gas that is safe enough to be used in party balloons. The Zeppelin NT also features tear-proof, multi-layer fabric and has carried over 80,000 passengers since August 2001 with not one accident.

Party Like A Rock Star

For those seeking the ultimate Zeppelin experience, tours are available on the transit flights between Long Beach and the San Francisco Bay Area. Soaring above the California Coastline and Central Valley, these 8-hour cruises follow Highway 1 on July 8 (northbound) as the Zeppelin travels from Long Beach to her homebase at Moffett Field near San Francisco.  You can also rent out Eureka for a private party or corporate event as well.

180-Degree Sights from the Zeppelin's Loveseat

180-Degree Sights from the Zeppelin's Loveseat

Los Angeles flights depart from the AirFlite FBO terminal, adjacent to the main terminal at Long Beach Airport (3250 Airflite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807, at the corner of Cherry and Wardlow). One-hour flights are $495, plus tax, per person and if you bring another person along, they get $100 dollars off their ticket; two-hour flights are $990, plus tax, per person and the second ticket is $200 off; and the spectacular Fourth of July fireworks flight is $1,200, plus tax, per person.
For your own Zeppelin Airship adventure, or to track Eureka’s travels, visit:
www.airshipventures.com
650-969-8100

About the author

Lanee Neil