Airships over Ingria, Sunday Evening Flight
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Sunday Evening Flight, June 22

My airship sightings had been few, and far between. In February 1983 I saw a white Smirnoff airship stand on a snow field  in Gränna but I had to rush for ferry before the airship flew. Same year in June I sat in the gondola of  a moored Goodyear Blimp outside of Rouen on the way to Chateau de Balleroy, where I had a glimpse of two hot air airships and a big Skyship 500.  Then nothing for 21 years. But then I was lucky to have a half an hour ride above central Helsinki in Zeppelin NT.

My ignorance of hot air airships was to be lightened right here, at the edge of a wide expance under Tuutari Park ski slope.


PINK FLAG DECLARES SUPPLEMENTARY BRIEFING. PILOTS HAVE CONGREGATED AROUND COMPETITION DIRECTOR PIT THIBO AT THE  FLAG POLE. THE REST OF US STAY ON OTHER SIDE OF DITCH. DECISION: IT IS TOO WINDY. WE MUST WAIT.


AIRSHIP CARS AND ENVELOPES ARE RIGGED TOGETHER, BUT THE WIND DOES NOT ABATE.  FILM CREWS WAIT, EVERYBODY WAITS. THE UGLY SCARS ON HILLSIDE WAIT FOR HEALING THAT MAY NEVER HAPPEN.


PETROL BEING ADDED. THE COILS ON TOP OF THE GONDOLA  ARE THE TWO BURNERS THAT HEAT THE AIR INSIDE AIRSHIP'S HULL.


INFLATION TUBE CONNECTS FAN AND THE ENVELOPE. FAN IS USED TO FILL AIRSHIP'S HULL WITH COLD AIR BEFORE HEATING CAN BEGIN.



BLACK FLAG GOES UP AT 22. IT MEANS THAT THE TASKS ARE CANCELLED.  IT IS NOT WINDY ANY MORE (A PIECE OF WIRE KEEPS THE FLAG EXTENDED) BUT WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.

PIT GIVES PERMISSION TO FLY FOR FUN - AND FOR THE FILM CREWS. LANDING NOT LATER
THAN 23:00.

LEONID TYHUKTYAEV
IS THE FIRST TO BEGIN
HERE HE TAKES A POSE
FOR TELEVISION




DON CAMERON NOTICED
THAT LEONID'S BRAND NEW
ENVELOPE IS SEWN
BY USING STAGGERED PANELS
AND WITHOUT THE LOADTAPES
THAT ARE NORMALLY USED
AS RIP STOPPERS.



WOJCIECH BAMBERSKI'S TAIL NEEDS TO GET STIFFER. BIGGER.


KOERNER ECKARDT IN THE AIR, GENNADY OPARIN ON GROUND BUT FILLING UP. BIGGER.


RIMAS KOSTIUSKEVICIUS CHASED BY LEONID. MUCH BIGGER.



LUDMILA USHAKOVA FLIES IN THE SHADOW OF TUUTARI HILL WHILE SUN SHINES THROUGH ECKARDT'S ENVELOPE. IT IS SOON TIME TO LAND. SKY IS OVEREXPOSED TO NON-EXISTENCE IN THIS PHOTO. BIGGER.

We had a flight. Not a competition flight, however. None of the  11 competitors won any points but press and tv got footage of flying airships. And I got education.