Blimp

Blimp is an informal term typically applied to non-rigid airships. These airships differ from rigid airships (e.g. Zeppelins) in that they have no rigid structure that holds the airbag in shape. Rather, blimps rely on a higher pressure of the gas (usually helium) inside the envelope. For a more complete description of this style of aircraft, please see airship.

Related Topics:
Airship - Zeppelin - Helium - Aircraft

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The term "blimp" is reportedly onomatopoeic, the sound the airship makes when one taps the envelope (balloon) with a finger. Although there is some disagreement among historians, credit for coining the term is usually given to Lt. A.D. Conningham of the British Royal Navy in 1915.

Related Topics:
Onomatopoeic - Balloon - Historian - Royal Navy - 1915

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There is an often repeated, but false, alternative explanation for the term. The erroneous story is that at some time in the early 20th century, the United States military had two classes for airships: Type A-rigid and Type B-limp, hence "blimp". In fact,

Related Topics:
20th century - United States - Military

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:"there was no American 'A-class' of airships as such—all military aircraft, heavier or lighter-than-air were designated with 'A' until the appearance of B-class airships in May 1917. There was an American B airship—but there seems to be no record of any official designation of non-rigids as 'limp'. Further, according to the Oxford Dictionary, the first appearance of the word in print was in 1916, in England, a year before the first B-class airship." ("Etymology of 'Blimp'" by Dr. A. D. Topping, AAHS Journal, Winter 1963.)

Related Topics:
1917 - Oxford Dictionary - 1916 - England

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The perpetuation of this erroneous explanation is an example of fake etymology.

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Blimps maintain their form by internal overpressure. Typically, the only solid parts are the passenger car (gondola) and the tail fins.

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A blimp that uses heated air instead of a light gas as lifting medium is sometimes called a hotship.

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