The American Blimp MZ-3A is a blimp owned by the United States Navy from 2006 to 2017. It is a modified American Blimp CorporationA-170 series commercial blimp and given the USN type/model/series (T/M/S) designation MZ-3A and Bureau Number (BuNo) 167811. After delivery to the Navy, the airship began operations as an advanced flying laboratory used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads, the development of new lighter-than-air (LTA) technologies and general flight support for other related research and development/science and technology (R&D/S&T) projects. As of 2023, it was the last airship to be operated by the U. S. military. The airship now occasionally can be spotted around Boston, sporting a Dick's Sporting Goods livery.
The airship is propeller-driven by two 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming engines, providing a maximum cruise speed of just under 50 kn (93 km/h). The crewed 178-foot LTA craft has an operational payload capability of up to 2,500 lb (1,100 kg) and can remain aloft and nearly stationary for more than twelve hours, performing various missions in support of technology development for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) concepts.
History
In May 2006, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWENTY, Lighter-than-Air Vehicle (LTAV) Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) began regular flight operations from Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst located in Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 2007 flight operations were halted and the ship stored in Hangar Six at NAES Lakehurst.
The MZ-3A was a government owned / contractor operated (GOCO) airship operated by a civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. (ISSI) of California. ISSI maintained and operated the blimp employing Navy approved, highly qualified, commercial blimp pilots to command the airship.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 26 October 2011 at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, NAES Lakehurst, New Jersey, and in recognition of the Centennial of Naval Aviation, the Navy unveiled a fresh identity for the MZ-3A. Emblazoned with red, white and blue striped rudders reminiscent of the Navy's airships just prior to World War II, the airship also carries the insignia of the VXS-1 Warlocks and the banner of the U.S. Navy.[5][6]
In February 2012, four months after its formal acceptance by the Navy, the MZ-3A airship was at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. It was planned to be deflated and stored, and the program suspended until future missions warranted its re-activation.[7]
In March 2012, days after the decision to suspend, the program got a reprieve for at least another 3–6 months of operations.[8] The MZ-3A was still in operation as of March 2013, providing C4ISR capabilities demonstrations in Florida for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.[9][10]
In October 2017, the Navy sold the MZ-3A to the Florida-based AirSign Airship Group.[11]
^Henderson, Adam, MC2 (26 March 2013). "U.S. Navy photo 130326-N-WA189-002". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
Navy Lakehurst Historical Society, "The Airship," April–May 2007, "Navy LATV Unit Honors NLHS, pg 5
Naval Airship Association, "The Noon Balloon" Summer 2006, "After 44 Years, Lakehurst Back in Lighter-Than-Air Flight Research," posted by the Asbury Park Press, 5 September 2006, by Kirt More, Toms River Bureau, pgs 8–10.
