American Blimp MZ-3

The MZ-3A at NAS Patuxent River in November 2013
History
United States
NameMZ-3A
BuilderAmerican Blimp Corporation
Acquired2005
In service2006
Out of service2017
General characteristics
TypeA-170G Non-Rigid Airship
Displacement170,000 cubic feet (4,800 m3)
Length178 ft (54 m)
Propulsion2 × 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming IO-360
Speed45 knots (83 km/h)
Range>350 NM
Complement1 Pilot, 9 Passengers
Sensors and
processing systems		Various C4ISR
Notes
  • Bureau Number: 167811
  • Ceiling: 9,500 ft (2,900 m)
Ship at Lake Front Airport, New Orleans, Louisiana in July 2010.
At a ribbon-cutting event, 26 October 2011, at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Lakehurst, New Jersey, the MZ-3A airship bears the newly adorned insignia of Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), and the banner of the U.S. Navy.

The American Blimp MZ-3A is a blimp owned by the United States Navy from 2006 to 2017. It is a modified American Blimp Corporation A-170 series commercial blimp and given the USN type/model/series (T/M/S) designation MZ-3A and Bureau Number (BuNo) 167811. After delivery to the Navy, the airship began operations as an advanced flying laboratory used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads, the development of new lighter-than-air (LTA) technologies and general flight support for other related research and development/science and technology (R&D/S&T) projects. As of 2023, it was the last airship to be operated by the U. S. military. The airship now occasionally can be spotted around Boston, sporting a Dick's Sporting Goods livery.