off topic - NORAD asked me to fly my Spad XIII today

[Ry Vor]

Arial Crisis Over Maryland!

Some may have been surprised to learn a key component of our national defense relies on blimps.  We thought we had that technology mastered, but a big one got away and was cutting power lines over Maryland, and the defense department didn't know what to do.  It is filled with helium, which I believe there was some major incident, oh, about 100 years ago, that said that wasn't such a good idea.  Here is actual footage as to how we solved this crisis today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnW_M5Qb7mw

Here is the closest parallel I can think of as Halloween approaches:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPr7cYLq3dk

[Feralkoala]

It is filled with helium, which I believe there was some major incident, oh, about 100 years ago

You mean hydrogen, right? Helium is the safe one

[Ry Vor]

It is filled with helium, which I believe there was some major incident, oh, about 100 years ago

You mean hydrogen, right? Helium is the safe one

Don't ruin a good story with facts.     Still amazed we rely on blimps, it would be funny if it wasn't serious.

[Feralkoala]

Yeah, blimps still burn nicely, even with helium: USS Akron and USS Shenandoah

Those broke up in storms, though. But they were like blimp aircraft carriers! And that channels a wicked cool steampunk vibe