On a recent sunny afternoon, SF Weekly contributing photographer Tim Wagner headed to Silicon Valley for a tour of Airship Venture's "Eureka," the first lighter-than-air passenger ship to fly in the U.S. after more than 71 years.
The 246-foot long zeppelin is larger than a Boeing 747 and carries 12 passengers at a cruising speed of 35 mph. The cavernous Moffett Field hanger where Eureka is stored dwarfs even the airship. The row of three World War II blimp hangars are still some of the largest unsupported structures in the country. Hanger Three's massive doors remain open except during heavy wind and annual maintenance. The airship hangar's interior is so large that fog sometimes forms near the ceiling. Airship pilot Jim Dexter and crew chief Matt Smith discuss the day's route for the ship's Geek Tour. Ground crew member Matt Nicolary climbs the mast of the 30-ton custom truck to tether Eureka. The truck helps anchor the ship as it floats just above the ground. Zeppelin test pilot Fritz Gunther and Jim Dexter test the wind prior to launch. Automotive repair center owner and avid airplane pilot Frank Alaimo snaps photos before his first Zeppelin flight. Pilot Jim Dexter and Airship Ventures guest services staffer Janice Martinson run over their route shortly after liftoff over Moffett Field. The shadow of the Eureka passes over Silicon Valley's suburbs. Only two other zeppelins are flying in the world today - in Japan and Germany. Airship Venture's Geek Tour flies over Stanford University as well as the the headquarters of other Silicon Valley tech giants such as Apple, Oracle, and Google. Pilot Jim Dexter and Airship Ventures guest services staff member Janice Martinson confirm their route shortly after liftoff over Moffett Field. Eureka is the first airship running private flights in the U.S. since the 1937 Hindenburg disaster. A marsh river snakes through the South Bay under the Airship's flight path. Eureka circles Apple's world headquarters at 1 Infinity Loop in Cupertino. Airship Ventures ambassador Gus Holweger, who was born in the same city the first Zeppelin flew in (in Germany), peers down at the aerial view. South Bay salt ponds operated by Cargill are home to animals from the Great Blue Heron to tiny brine shrimp and micro-algae that color the ponds rich red and dark gold. A mosaic of South Bay salt ponds provide a wetland habitat for some 700,000 sand pipers near the Dumbarton Bridge. Airship Venture's Geek Tour flies over Google's Mountain View headquarters as well as Apple and Oracle. Crew chief Matt Smith uses a digital instrument to measure wind speed and direction as the Eureka comes in for a landing at its Moffett Field base. The 12-passenger Eureka hovers over Moffett's Field Hanger Three as it comes in for a landing. Ground crew wait to help the zeppelin land as the ship is nudged by winds Passenger Linda Westwood and Airship Ventures staff member Pam Wright chat while enjoying the view from 2,000 feet. A passenger disembarks after landing at Moffett Field. A Moffett Field sign at the former naval base, which is still used by NASA, various space and flight start-ups, as well as the California Guard. Airship Venturre's Brian Metzler pours drinks for a post-flight celebration.
