High above many big sporting events, you're likely to see a blimp sailing the sky.
Blimps are related to hot air balloons. The main difference is that blimps use the gas helium,
and they can move in any direction.
Hot air balloons are only able to move vertically, up and
down. When a hot air balloon moves in any other direction, it’s because the wind is blowing the balloon along.
Blimps have had many different uses. During World War II (two), Navy soldiers would fly
over the ocean, searching for submarines as they rose from the deep sea.
They were also
used to transport mail. People even flew around the world on blimps as passengers. Today,
blimps are mostly used for advertising different products and for televising sports.
A blimp has many different parts. Helium fills the envelope, which gives the blimp its
giant, oval shape. There are two engines that help the blimp reach speeds from 30 to 70 miles
The rudder is the part of the tail that controls the blimp when it moves to the left or the right. The basket at the bottom of the blimp is called a gondola.
It’s a small room where
passengers and pilots enjoy their ride. Some blimps have night signs and can flash messages
from the sky during the night.
The next sports event you watch on television, or the next time you're lucky enough to see one of these airships fly by, remember, it’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, it’s a blimp!