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The '''MZ-3A''' is an [[airship]] purchased by the [[US Navy]]. It is a SPECTOR50 (commercial model A-170) airship, manufactured by the American Blimp Corporation. The MZ-3A (aka Airship Flying Laboratory) is all white and carries no markings. The program may have been related to the Navy's low-altitude littoral sensor program.
The '''MZ-3A''' is an [[airship]] owned by the [[US Navy]]. It is commercial model A-1-70 series airship, manufactured by the American Blimp Corporation. It was purchased as an Advanced Airship Flying Laboratory for affordable evaluation of various sensor payloads, development of new lighter-than-air technologies, and general flight support for other related R&D/S&T projects. It is currently all white with no external markings other than its Bureau Number, 167811.


Between 3 May 2006 and 1 June 2007, the MZ-3A was operated by Air Test and Evalutaion Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det), [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]], NJ as a Government Owned/Contractor Operated (GO/CO) asset. During this time, the 4 pilots, 2 civilian and 2 Navy along with ground support, were supplied by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River|NAS Patuxent River]], MD, and civilian contractors. Operations were conducted from Hangar Six at NAES Lakehurst. The MZ-3A was planned to be used for sensor experiments at [[Fort Dix]] and other flight operations, but came to a halt in June 2007 and was placed under 24 hour pressure watch with hopes that funding will be forthcoming to resume operations in late summer or early fall of 2007.
In May 2006, Air Test and Evalutaion Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) flew the airship regularly from [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]]. Flight operations were halted in June 2007 and the ship remained dormant in Hangar Six until March 2010.


As of January 2010 the '''MZ-3A''' has been re-assigned to Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), formerly known as Naval Research Laboratory Flight Support Detachment, located at [[NAS Patuxent River]], MD.<ref>"Centennial," Spring 2010, Naval Air Forces Official Publication Vol. 2, Issue 2</ref><ref>[http://spot.colorado.edu/~dziadeck/airship/announcements.htm Announcement] - Announcement</ref> <ref>http://www.dcmilitary.com/special_sections/sw/080408px/ss_111733_31949.shtml</ref>and is being operated by a civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc (ISSI), California MD, with 2 pilots along with 15 ground crew members.
In January 2010, the Navy airship was re-assigned to Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), formerly known as Naval Research Laboratory Flight Support Detachment, located at [[NAS Patuxent River]], MD.<ref>"Centennial," Spring 2010, Naval Air Forces Official Publication Vol. 2, Issue 2</ref><ref>[http://spot.colorado.edu/~dziadeck/airship/announcements.htm Announcement] - Announcement</ref><ref>http://www.dcmilitary.com/special_sections/sw/080408px/ss_111733_31949.shtml</ref>

Under this re-assignment, the Navy MZ-3A airship resumed flight in March 2010. It is presently located in Yuma, Arizona where it is being used by various DoD entities for sensor testing. The airship is maintained and operated by civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc (ISSI), California MD.


Under this re-assignment, the Airship Flying Laboratory took its first flight in February 2010 and is on its way for testing with DoD programs.




Revision as of 17:06, 18 June 2010

The MZ-3A is an airship owned by the US Navy. It is commercial model A-1-70 series airship, manufactured by the American Blimp Corporation. It was purchased as an Advanced Airship Flying Laboratory for affordable evaluation of various sensor payloads, development of new lighter-than-air technologies, and general flight support for other related R&D/S&T projects. It is currently all white with no external markings other than its Bureau Number, 167811.

In May 2006, Air Test and Evalutaion Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) flew the airship regularly from Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst. Flight operations were halted in June 2007 and the ship remained dormant in Hangar Six until March 2010.

In January 2010, the Navy airship was re-assigned to Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), formerly known as Naval Research Laboratory Flight Support Detachment, located at NAS Patuxent River, MD.[1][2][3]

Under this re-assignment, the Navy MZ-3A airship resumed flight in March 2010. It is presently located in Yuma, Arizona where it is being used by various DoD entities for sensor testing. The airship is maintained and operated by civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc (ISSI), California MD.


See also

References

  1. ^ "Centennial," Spring 2010, Naval Air Forces Official Publication Vol. 2, Issue 2
  2. ^ Announcement - Announcement
  3. ^ http://www.dcmilitary.com/special_sections/sw/080408px/ss_111733_31949.shtml
  • Navy Lakehurst Historical Society, "The Airship," April-May 2007, "Navy LATV Unit Honors NLHS, pg 5
  • Naval Airship Association, "The Noon Balloon" Summer 2006, "After 44 Years, Lakehurst Back in Lighter-Than-Air Flight Research," posted by the Asbury Park Press, 5/9/06, by Kirt More, Toms River Bureau, pgs 8-10.