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Big in Japan: Cruise over Tokyo in a Zeppelin
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Zeppelin?
a) That killer guitar solo from Stairway to Heaven
b) An image of the Hindenburg in flames
c) A delicious fried donut (you're actually thinking of a zeppole)
d) A first-class way to travel the skies
Although you'd be forgiven for thinking of any of the above, the correct answer (at least for t
he purposes of this blog post) is in fact d.
(Then again, I could really use a zeppole right about now, and I do loves me some Led Zeppelin.)
In a recent press release, the Nippon Airship Corporation announced that they will begin offering cruises over Tokyo in their fleet of German-manufactured Zeppelin NT (Neue Technologie, German for new technology) airships.
A 90-minute cruise over the world's largest megalopolis will set you back the bargain price of US$1,500 or approximately 173,000 yen (give or take a few thousand).
Oh, and in case you're wondering, the Zeppelin NT is filled with helium, not hydrogen. And besides, safety is of paramount concern in Japan, so you can erase any images of the Hindenburg in flames from your twisted little mind.
For all of you aviation fans out there who want the nitty-gritty details on the Zeppelin NT, keep on reading.
The Zeppelin NT has been manufactured since the 1990s by the German company Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH (ZLT) in Friedrichshafen. However, ZLT is in fact the direct successor of the companies founded by Ferdinand von Zeppelin, which constructed and operated the Zeppelin airships of the early 20th century.
Unlike the behemoth Zeppelins that once took to the skies, modern Zeppelin NT airships are only 75 m long, and have a total volume of 8,225 m³. They are also exclusively inflated with helium, which is a non-reactive noble gas.
Unlike hydrogen, which is needless to say extremely flammable, the only danger in using helium is the possibility of a squeaky voice, and perhaps a mild head rush.
The Zeppelin NT is also classified as a semi-rigid airship, whi
ch is completely different in design from the original Zeppelins.
Instead of employing a rigid skeleton and a non-rigid blimp, the Zeppelin NT uses an internal triangular truss of graphite-reinforced plastic as well as three longitudinal aluminum girders and aramid cords.
Although the Zeppelin NT only weighs about 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg), it can transport a payload that is double its weight, and carry up to twelve passengers and two crew members.
The Zeppelin NT has a maximum range of approximately 560 miles (900 kilometers). It can also rise to an altitude of 8,500 ft (2,600m) and reach speeds of 78 mph (135 km/h).
Although I don't think I have the cash to take an aerial tour of Tokyo, I think you'll agree with me in saying that the Zeppelin NT is definitely a first-class way to travel the skies, especially if you cue up some Houses of the Holy on your IPod.
** Special thanks to Justin Glow, the main man behind scenes here at Gadling, who tipped me off to this random bit of news. If I ever hit it big in the writing world, I'll spot you the US$1,500 so we can cruise over Tokyo in style **
Filed under: Asia, Japan, Big in Japan, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JPN Nov 16th 2007 12:18PM
Yay, no more Tokyo Auto Show :) Sorry, but cars aren't my thing.
ANYWAY...I wonder why this is so expensive? It seems like a glorified helicopter tour.
Asako Erbeck Nov 19th 2007 6:21AM
Why would anyone spend that kind of money to fly over Tokyo? You would miss seeing Tokyo at it's best ,at NIGHT, Tokyo swings in the evening starting around 7pm and ending at around 4pm, Take my advise spend a evening in Tokyo and you wont regret it.
redbird Nov 19th 2007 7:53AM
Can someone tell me what the thrill of Japan and Tokyo in General is??? I mean, You take away all the lights at night and the city is a dump. The rest of the country is NO Nicer than the English Country Side, The Beautiful Mountain West USA, The Great cities of Chicago and New York in USA or places like the GREAT city of London etc etc etc. Their lives are so different than other people`s and they do not seem friendly to anyone but their kind when in their country. The suicide rate and depression is some of the highest in the world, their food is bland and the people walk around like robots. I do agree the nightlife is ok but what IF the nightlife (drinking dancing etc) is not for you? Forget it.
Web Nov 19th 2007 7:53AM
Does it point out all the places fire bombed and the millions killed in WWII???
joncdodge Nov 19th 2007 9:15AM
Sweeeet! I'd love to view Japan someday.
JonBoy
http://curiousread.com
d cherry Nov 19th 2007 9:15AM
The best way to travel over tokyo would be in the Enola Gay
Desmond Nov 19th 2007 9:50AM
$1500 Those people are out of their freaking minds! are they so snooty that they only can cater to the rich.
I've been to Tokyo as a kid and I liked it though.
H Nov 19th 2007 9:55AM
Redbird, Japan is one of the cleanest, friendliest countries in the world. They hire people to clean the handrails of escalators in their public train stations! I don't think I've ever seen anyone actually take the time to do that before. One the Shinkansen, they actually replace the mats on the headrests with fresh ones so that you're not resting your head against something some one else was just before and they take the time to wash down the arm rests and the tray tables. Keep in mind, they have only five minutes to do this throughout the entire train before it takes off again.
Don't get me wrong, America is great, but I would eat off the floor of the trains in Japan. I won't even dare sitting in the seats on the train in Chicago or New York. Plus, our history only goes back a couple of hundred years. Japan has thousands of years in rich, colorful history to look at.
If you think their people walk around like robots... We once asked a waitress for directions to the nearest bus stop. She asked around the entire diner until she found a local who was willing to WALK us the TWO MILES up to the nearest stop! Those were mighty friendly robots! Next time you want to judge a country, try actually exploring it first. If this is the opinion you left with, you didn't do enough looking around. It's a wonderful country with delicious food (you should try a hotpot or their Oyako) and everyone was tremendously friendly.