Airship Update: Farmers Zeppelin Reaches Oklahoma on National Tour

reprint from NewsOK.com:

Zeppelin Makes Oklahoma City Stop


The Farmers Airship, also known as the Eureka, made a stop in Oklahoma City on Monday. The 246-foot, 14,000 pound airship has been touring the country for the past six months, and is set to return to its California home about three weeks from now.

BY MATT DINGER mdinger@opubco.com
Published: September 20, 2011

The world's largest zeppelin made a stop in Oklahoma City on Monday.

The Farmers Airship, the world's largest airship and one of only two zeppelins
 in the world passes south of downtown Oklahoma City Monday, September 19, 2011.
 Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman. ORG XMIT: KOD

The Farmers Airship, also known as the Eureka, travels at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet, and is capable of speeds up to 75 mph, but typically travels at 35 to 40 mph.

Unlike hydrogen-filled airships of the past, this zeppelin is filled with helium, a nonflammable, lighter-than-air gas. What separates a blimp from a zeppelin is the rigid frame inside the ship, which means that it holds most of its shape even when emptied of gas and the engines are mounted on the side and the rear of the ship, rather than the cabin.

“We like to say, ‘We don't fly. We float,'” said David Finney, guest services supervisor for Airship Ventures, the California company that owns the airship.

The Farmers Airship, The St Louis Gateway Arch, & The Cardinals

Still on its 6 month cross country tour, the Farmers Zeppelin named Eureka, is currently visiting St. Louis, Missouri.

Click on the following news report to see video of the airship above the St. Louis Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River.


The Farmers Airship also made it's first Major League Baseball appearance over the St Louis Cardinals' stadium.

The Farmers Airship made its first-ever Major League appearance on
 August 23 as it cruised over the St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium.

For past airship and hot air balloon blogs:


For a news video from Detroit, Michigan, click here.

Or for a report from Chicago, Illinois.
Or even Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or Muskegon.Or the Oshkosh Air Show.


Farmers Airship embarks on National Tour.

Farmers Airship adds to the New York City Skyline.
Farmers NASCAR racecar & Hot Air Balloon at Pocono; chance to win an Airship ride.
Farmers, Facebook, & FarmVille: chance to win an Airship ride.
The steps to inflating the Farmers Hot Air Balloon.

Click HERE for a video from airship flights over San Diego.  Explains the difference between zeppelins and blimps.

Members of the ground crew guide guests on and off

 of the Zeppelin between flights. - Derik Holtmann/BND

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Farmers Airship Wows Wisconsin Air Show as National Tour Continues

Zeppelin Impresses at Oshkosh Air Show
German-made airship set to give Chicagoans a lift next weekend

Jon Hilkevitch's Getting Around

August 1, 2011

OSHKOSH, Wis.

Click HERE to go to original Chicago Tribune article and video from within the zeppelin. 

— Captain Jim Dexter takes passengers up for a spectacular 360-degree view of the earth aboard an aircraft he dubs "the ultimate skybox."

It's the largest flying airship in the world, a Zeppelin NT4 (New Technology) named Eureka, painted with the livery of its current corporate sponsor, Farmers Insurance Group.

The German-made airship represents somewhat of a paradox, albeit enjoyable for its passengers. At 246 feet in length, the zeppelin is 15 feet longer than a standard Boeing 747 and its glass cockpit is equipped with some similar state-of-the-art avionics.

• Photos: Scenes from AirVenture 2011
• Photo: 
• Graphic: Inside a modern airship

Yet the top speed is 78 mph carrying a maximum of 12 passengers and two crew members, according to Airship Ventures Inc., a California company that owns and operates the vehicle.

Zeppelin on tour: Take off on the largest airship on the planet

Re-print from Chicago Sun Times 

BY LORI RACKL July 13, 2011 1:24PM

Please, don’t call it a blimp.

It’s a Zeppelin.

The Farmers Airship that’s floating across the country offering flightseeing tours in 16 cities — including Chicago and Oshkosh, Wis. — is one of only two Zeppelins in the world.

The difference between a Zeppelin and a blimp is that a Zeppelin has a rigid internal frame that gives it its shape. Blimps are more like balloons.

Because blimps lack a Zeppelin’s skeletal framework, their engines are mounted on the side of the passenger cabin, creating noise and vibration. A ride on a Zeppelin is much more peaceful, thanks to the engines being tucked away on the sides of the hull and the tail end of the airship, far from the passenger gondola.

Another key difference is that “Zeppelin” sounds way cooler than “blimp.” Jimmy Page would never be in a band called Led Blimp.

Farmers Insurance at Pocono Raceway: NASCAR & the Hot Air Balloon

Thousands of NASCAR race fans stopped by the
 Farmers tent to take a look at the Farmers show car
 along with the hot air baloon and CCV. 

Re-print from Why Platinum?

Driver Mark Martin in the No. 5 Farmers car took on the Five Hour Energy 500 at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 12, in Long Pond, Pa., finishing 18th. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon placed first, bringing home his 84th win.

The Farmers team enjoyed an action-packed weekend leading up to Sunday's race. On Thursday, the Farmers' show car was onsite to support the grand opening of the Philadelphia AgencyPoint where 24 new Farmers agents graduated from training.

The car was also on full display at Friday's Farmers Auto Shop in King of Prussia, Pa. where local consumers received a complimentary multi-point auto inspection while agents talked with potential customers and raffled off tickets to Sunday's race. Local radio station personalities broadcasted live from the event, promoting the new availability of Farmers products in the Philadelphia area.

The fun continued on Saturday when the show car pulled into the Pocono Raceway where it was on display through Sunday. Potential consumers talked with local agents, took rides in the Farmers hot air balloon and entered to win a ride on the Farmers Airship.