Aviation Faculty Receive Flight Instruction in Blimp
Published 08.28.2008
News
Aviation
Faculty & Staff
On Tuesday, William P. "Scott" Welch and William F. Stepp faculty members at Penn College's Lumley Aviation Center in Montoursville received 45 minutes each of flight instruction in the Goodyear Blimp. The lessons were given in thanks because Welch allowed one of the blimp pilots to fly his helicopter. Both enjoyed the flight, said Thomas D. Inman, associate professor of avionics, and commented on how slowly the airship responds to the controls. Welch enjoyed the experience so much that he asked how much time would be required to add an airship rating to his commercial pilot license. (The response was discouraging, since commercial blimp pilots must log 1,500 landings before taking the Federal Aviation Administration flight test. That process can take up to a year and a half to complete.)