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Big Brother Gets A Blimp
from the well,-how-else-would-he-travel? dept
The blimp is commonly associated with sporting events, as the sponsored floating vehicle often gives the TV audience sky high shots of a sporting venue. However, it appears that some government officials believe that blimps may be the next crime fighting tool. Apparently, American officials are in Trinidad & Tobago to carry out tests of a $40 million crime fighting blimp that can supposedly listen in on mobile phone calls. It's not at all clear how this would actually work. Also, the report claims that security has been tightened on the blimp after someone tried to take a photo of it. Of course... it's a blimp. Doesn't it seem likely that people will be able to see it from quite some distance? In fact, another article on the subject (which claims such blimps are in more common usage around the world already) includes a photo of the blimp as well. It looks like pretty standard blimp. It seems like whatever governments are using such blimps would actually have a much better chance of making it less noticeable by slapping a Goodyear or a MetLife logo on the side.
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Provocative Blimps
There was a Good Year blimp over Detroit last week that seemed to be making provocative maneuvers on purpose -- doing wheelies, wobbling, making steep dives. It sure got my attention.
I have seen free-flying blimps over the Mexican border used by the border patrol, though. When I get out of school and get a real job again, I might buy a RC blimp, the 8-foot model, for a few thou.
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Re: Provocative Blimps
I saw the blimp. I think it was for the "All Star Game". When I saw it, it was quite far from the game so who knows.
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around for awhile
There are several of these that have been around for a decade or more; mostly along the US/Mexico border, used for drug interdiction. see: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/tars.htm
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Army Blimp testing over Washington DC
The US Army tested a blimp over Washington DC last fall. A few photos I took are available. A US Army writeup: U.S. Army Airship Missions Over The Washington DC Metro Area, Maryland And Northern Virginia.
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