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.
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 Tire Company, Rates Restaurants - Capital One Auto Navigator - The strategic marketing genius behind combining tire sales with restaurant recommendations
- Michelin Guide History: From Tire Sales to Culinary Authority - CNN Business - How a 1900 marketing ploy became the world's most prestigious restaurant rating system
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
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