he Lightship Group (www.lightships.com), a blimp company based out of Orlando, has just created a blimp, with a TV screen. The experience, onlookers say, is much like a drive-in movie. Except that it is 1,000 feet in the air, and is travelling at 15 miles an hour. Just recently, the company received Federal Aviation Administration's approval for its new A-170 lightship. The blimp will not just carry the logo of the company, but will also beam its latest commercials, NFL football highlights and movie trailers on its 70-by-30-foot LED screen.

The new blimp represents the dovetailing of technological advances in both balloon and LED technology. The new blimp comes with a stronger lift power, a more durable envelope, and lighter, higher-quality electronics. The airship, previewed only once before, for attendees at the National Broadcasters Association, has already been engaged, for a $5 million deal. The name of the client however, has not been disclosed. Despite being around for quite some time, the blimp advertising industry hasn't really taken off. Only a few dozen ships around the world exist, and 17 of them run are by The Lightship Group.... more