American Blimp Corporation (ABC) is an American privately owned Hillsboro, Oregon-based company that is the largest manufacturer of blimps in the United States. It manufactures the hardware and rigging for the Lightship and Spector brands of airships. In 2012, American Blimp Corporation and The Lightship Group were acquired by Van Wagner Communications LLC, and became referred to as the Van Wagner Airship Group.[1] On November 17, 2017, the Florida-based AirSign Inc. purchased the American Blimp Corporation and the Van Wagner Airship Group. In additional to getting 15 airships in the acquisition, AirSign also purchased the A-170 airship (MZ-3A) from the U.S. Navy. With ownership and management of Van Wagner's global airship operations, including staff with decades of experience in the airship industry, AirSign became as the world's largest airship company.
ABC was founded in 1987 by James Thiele.[2] The company's lightships (proprietary blimps) are the A-60 and A-60+, as well as the A-150 and A-170.[2] The website says, "There are more A-60+ airships flying in commercial service than those of all other manufacturers combined."[2]
In 1995, it launched the Spector series, with a gondola capable of nine passengers plus the pilot.[2]
In 1999, American Blimp Company purchased Simply Blimps, the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of remote controlled arena blimps for $US 95MM.[2]
Its Hillsboro location has a 2,300-square-metre (25,000 sq ft) facility and leased space in the former US Navy airship hangar at Tillamook, Oregon.[2] There are 45 employees in Oregon.[2]
The Lightship Groupedit
Wholly owned subsidiary The Lightship Group (TLG) sells lightships and is based in Orlando, Florida and has more than 200 employees.[2] TLG was formed in 1995 as a partnership of Virgin Lightship and ABC's Lightship America. In 2002, ABC acquired control of the group. In 2012, TLG was acquired by Van Wagner Communications LLC, and operated under The Van Wagner Airship Group until 2017, when it was purchased by Airsign Inc.[1]
TLG has contracted with Goodyear to operate the Goodyear Blimp outside of the United States, in Europe and countries such as Australia, Brazil, and China; this includes airships such as the "Spirit of Europe 1" and 2 as well as the "Spirit of the South Pacific".[3] It was one of TLG's Goodyear airships that crashed in Reichelsheim, Germany on 14 June 2011, resulting in the death of Michael Nerandzic, an experienced pilot whose last-minute actions saved the lives of his three passengers.[4]
According to its website, the AirSign Airship Group is the "world's largest airship operator, providing integrated, full service Airship advertising and promotion programs for companies such as Goodyear, Met Life, General Motors, DirecTV and Sanyo."[3][4]
^ ab"Van Wagner buys The Lightship Group, American Blimp Corp. - New York Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
^ abcdefgh. Americanblimp.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
^ ab"Lightships :: Client Highlights >> GoodYear". The Lightship Group. from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
^ ab"Blimp pilot dies saving passengers from fiery crash". CNN. June 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Blimp Corporation.
Website --> Now operating under Airsign Airship Group.
AirSign
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April 12, 2024
american, blimp, corporation, american, privately, owned, hillsboro, oregon, based, company, that, largest, manufacturer, blimps, united, states, manufactures, hardware, rigging, lightship, spector, brands, airships, 2012, lightship, group, were, acquired, wag. American Blimp Corporation ABC is an American privately owned Hillsboro Oregon based company that is the largest manufacturer of blimps in the United States It manufactures the hardware and rigging for the Lightship and Spector brands of airships In 2012 American Blimp Corporation and The Lightship Group were acquired by Van Wagner Communications LLC and became referred to as the Van Wagner Airship Group 1 On November 17 2017 the Florida based AirSign Inc purchased the American Blimp Corporation and the Van Wagner Airship Group In additional to getting 15 airships in the acquisition AirSign also purchased the A 170 airship MZ 3A from the U S Navy With ownership and management of Van Wagner s global airship operations including staff with decades of experience in the airship industry AirSign became as the world s largest airship company American Blimp CorporationCompany typePrivateFounded1987 37 years ago 1987 HeadquartersHillsboro Oregon USA45 32 21 N 122 57 16 W 45 53913 N 122 95444 W 45 53913 122 95444Productsnon rigid airshipsSubsidiariesThe Lightship GroupWebsitewww wbr americanblimp wbr com dead link N615LG Blimp for MetLifeCorporate headquarters in Hillsboro Oregon Contents 1 Models 2 Oregon facilities 3 The Lightship Group 4 Aircraft 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksModels editABC was founded in 1987 by James Thiele 2 The company s lightships proprietary blimps are the A 60 and A 60 as well as the A 150 and A 170 2 The website says There are more A 60 airships flying in commercial service than those of all other manufacturers combined 2 In 1995 it launched the Spector series with a gondola capable of nine passengers plus the pilot 2 In 1999 American Blimp Company purchased Simply Blimps the world s largest manufacturer and distributor of remote controlled arena blimps for US 95MM 2 The blimps feature internal lights and translucent envelopes for the advertising and sales promotion markets The airship s envelopes are manufactured by ILC Dover s Lighter than air division based in Frederica Delaware citation needed Oregon facilities editIts Hillsboro location has a 2 300 square metre 25 000 sq ft facility and leased space in the former US Navy airship hangar at Tillamook Oregon 2 There are 45 employees in Oregon 2 The Lightship Group editWholly owned subsidiary The Lightship Group TLG sells lightships and is based in Orlando Florida and has more than 200 employees 2 TLG was formed in 1995 as a partnership of Virgin Lightship and ABC s Lightship America In 2002 ABC acquired control of the group In 2012 TLG was acquired by Van Wagner Communications LLC and operated under The Van Wagner Airship Group until 2017 when it was purchased by Airsign Inc 1 TLG has contracted with Goodyear to operate the Goodyear Blimp outside of the United States in Europe and countries such as Australia Brazil and China this includes airships such as the Spirit of Europe 1 and 2 as well as the Spirit of the South Pacific 3 It was one of TLG s Goodyear airships that crashed in Reichelsheim Germany on 14 June 2011 resulting in the death of Michael Nerandzic an experienced pilot whose last minute actions saved the lives of his three passengers 4 According to its website the AirSign Airship Group is the world s largest airship operator providing integrated full service Airship advertising and promotion programs for companies such as Goodyear Met Life General Motors DirecTV and Sanyo 3 4 Aircraft editAmerican Blimp A 170 American Blimp MZ 3 Conan blimp DIRECTV blimpSee also editList of current airships in the United States List of companies based in OregonReferences edit a b Van Wagner buys The Lightship Group American Blimp Corp New York Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved 2015 12 23 a b c d e f g h About American Blimp Americanblimp com Archived from the original on 2011 07 07 Retrieved 2011 06 15 a b Lightships Client Highlights gt gt GoodYear The Lightship Group Archived from the original on 26 June 2011 Retrieved 2011 06 15 a b Blimp pilot dies saving passengers from fiery crash CNN June 14 2011 Retrieved 2011 06 15 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Blimp Corporation Website gt Now operating under Airsign Airship Group AirSign Airships Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Blimp Corporation amp oldid 1145897881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
