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Blimps

Episode 100: Blimps - Show Notes

After 100 episodes covering everything from cicadas to NFTs, hosts Michael and Michael celebrate this milestone by diving into the surprisingly limited world of blimps. With only 25 active blimps worldwide and half of those actually flying, the duo explores how these true marvels of technical achievement have evolved from military surveillance tools to floating billboards. Along the way, they uncover the Goodyear blimp's $20 million upgrade from non-rigid to semi-rigid, Led Zeppelin's connection to Keith Moon's lead balloon joke, and why Michelin—yes, the tire company—started rating restaurants to sell more tires.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro
 1:22 - Episode 100 Celebration
 4:12 - Only 25 Blimps in the World
 5:04 - From Military Surveillance to Sports Broadcasting
 6:39 - How Long Does It Take to Learn to Fly a Blimp?
 7:25 - Blimp Speed and Travel Logistics
 8:10 - The Three Types of Airships
 10:06 - Goodyear's $20 Million Semi-Rigid Upgrade
 11:00 - Hot Air Balloons vs. Blimps
 12:21 - Led Zeppelin Name Origin Story
 13:26 - The Hindenburg Disaster Details
 16:10 - Airship Travel Dreams vs. Reality
 18:18 - Flight Simulator Talk
 19:48 - Who Pays for Blimp Operations?
 21:34 - The Michelin Tire-Restaurant Connection
 23:05 - Michelin Stars Tangent
 23:45 - Current Podcast Recommendations
 25:10 - Wrap Up

Links Mentioned & Further Reading

Advanced Airship Engineering & Technology:

• Next-Generation Airship Design Enabled by Modern Composites - CompositesWorld
  Deep dive into how carbon fiber composites are revolutionizing rigid airship construction

• Airships, Dirigibles, Zeppelins & Blimps: What's the Difference? - Airships.net
  Comprehensive technical breakdown of non-rigid, semi-rigid, and rigid airship classifications

• Semi-Rigid Airship Technology - Encyclopedia.com
  Historical development and technical specifications of semi-rigid airship design

Goodyear Blimp Evolution:

• Goodyear's $21 Million Upgrade from Blimps to Zeppelins - Machine Design
  Technical analysis of the 2014 transition to Zeppelin NT semi-rigid airships

• The Goodyear Blimp, Today and Yesterday - Airships.net
  Complete history of Goodyear's airship program from 1925 to present

Music & Cultural Connections:

• How Led Zeppelin Got Their Name - Far Out Magazine
  The Keith Moon lead balloon origin story and its connection to zeppelin terminology

• The Two-Sided Story of How Led Zeppelin Got Their Name - American Songwriter
  Conflicting accounts from Keith Moon vs. John Entwistle

Michelin Guide Origins:

• Why Michelin, a T

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