My CNET News colleague James Martin last month was among the first to ride in the new Zeppelin NT, which start-up Airship Ventures is basing out of Moffett Field at NASA Ames Research Center near Mountain View, Calif.
But on Friday, Airship Ventures and NASA held an event celebrating both the 75th anniversary of Moffett Field and the official naming of the zeppelin. With an audience of hundreds looking on--including Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) as well as some guests in 1930s-era clothing--Airship Ventures' co-founders Alexandra and Brian Bell christened their vessel "Eureka."
As I was sitting in the press section, waiting for the ceremony to start, I saw this child walking on the tarmac, with the zeppelin in the background.
Airship Ventures will run a commercial business with the aircraft, selling rides over the Bay Area for $495 for an hour-long trip. The company will also offer rides from other airfields to do alternative trips, such as one to fly over Napa Valley's wine country.
Photo by Daniel Terdiman/CNET Networks
Caption by Daniel Terdiman
