New Re-Designed Snoopy One

Seldom do I see any of the Goodyear flock of blimps anymore. They are very much out there. It seems to me that the Met Life fleet is seen more these days. In fact, the last three times that I have seen one, it was the Met Life Snoopy, although I don't recall if it was One, Two, or Three. I just know it was not "J".

The Goodyear flock has undergone several name changes with the latest being done by a vote on the Internet. There is the Spirit of Goodyear based  at the old Wingfoot Lake Hanger in Ohio and outside Akron. The "Spirit of America based" in California. "Spirit of Innovation" based in Pompano Beach, Florida and the "Ling Hang Zhe" in China.

Like Goodyear, Met Life has a blimp in China, too. The info pack makes mention of four (4) but does not give much data on Snoopy Three that flew briefly. It may be the one in China as the "J" is for Japan. That leaves "Snoopy One" and "Snoopy Two" here in the states. Snoopy One winters in Florida, Georgia and Texas, while Snoopy Two winters in California, Nevada and Arizona.

With my Nikon down because of technological problems in its soft wear, I'm shooting with the Olympus and the long lens isn't as long as the Nikon by 50 mm. While shooting a new measuring device used by the USGS (United States Geological Survey)  the  Snoopy One was hanging out over the area of the Dallas Farmers Market, but did make its final pass coming closer to where I was and giving a snap shot as it would rise and descent in fairly strong headwinds from the northeast. At one point it looked to be over the Klyde Warren Park and Uptown but because of the winds, it appeared to be holding still for a very long time. It's just one of those things. You can't be every where at the same time, but you can be somewhere and still get a shot for the fun of it. Outside of my stock images and Fine Print images, that's what I like about photography. It affords me an outlet to keep the old ticker ticking with exercise and fresh air and to me, it's just down right fun when you see something like the blimps in town or Solar Impulse at DFW. The next big event will be the  double shot of A-380s on a daily basis landing at DFW in October and seeing a Virgin America landing daily at Love Field. Blimps are still extremely fun because of the ground crew array of vehicles that travel with the blimps. If you have ever seen the full detail in action, it's semi tractor-trailer and tour buses is it's  traveling pit crew more or less. What a sight. On the Met Life site, there is a picture of Snoopy inside a Southwest hanger with the tour bus and crews. Come to think about it, the ground crew for a blimp is very much like the ground chase crew for hot air ballooning. It's just a  larger envelope and more technological staff (i.e., radio crews, etc.,etc.).

Most likely, the blimp was on it's way to the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee coming up on it's schedule tour booking.

 

Timing Is Everything and ..........

On Sunday's last trip to Fair Park before the State Fair, the Chinese Lantern Festival had created some very tall Lotus Blooms. The thought did cross my mind as to how they would be used. Today, a sky crane helicopter lifted them from the staging lot near Gate 5 to the Lagoon where they were placed. Now only did I miss the lift, I missed seeing them in the large lagoon where the big swan paddle boats can be rented. It's just one of those things......you cover what you can and sometimes it works out and some times it does not.
The train move has occupied some time. The Chihuly glass exhibit has been at the Arboretum for nearly five months and it leaves the first week of November and the pumpkin display opens this Saturday for it's annual run. On top of that---the Perot Museum of Science and Nature opens in it's new building in downtown much earlier than first announced. The new 5-acre deck park opens too! There is a lot of stuff happening! The old adage that it never rains but what it pours seems to be holding true.

Waiting to move to Frisco

Most likely, the big boy will be the last to leave Fair Park
 

With just the things mentioned here would  add another $100 just for parking and admissions. Gas and food would be extra, of course. The cost of an enjoyable hobby today is an expensive undertaking, though not complaining. So for now, since timing is everything and I came up short today.....here are a couple more shots from this past Sundays shoot.

 

Perot's House of Dreams

Ross Perot donated 50M. That donation was directed toward moving the Museum of Nature and Science from Fair Park into the heart of Downtown and an ever-growing Uptown. The new 174-foot tall building (that's the equivalent of a 15-story building)  which  has an impressive glass box on the outside  houses a 54-foot escalator. The behemoth staircase at Busch Gardens in Florida isn't enclosed in glass. But, where technology and history meet there is sometimes a chain reaction and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science certainly will create that chain reaction. Columbus,Ohio's COSI is an amazing place for science and industry, but the Perot Museum of Nature and Science will surpass COSI in short order.

This image was taken from on board the M Line as it crossed Woodall Rodgers.