16-7811 —

Info from Joe Baugher's Bureau Number database:

BuNo Criteria: 167811
Data last updated: Tue Mar 15 09:36:28 2016

167811 ... 167811 (EXACT MATCH)
American Blimp MZ-3A

Airship delivered to the US Navy, May 2006, a modified American Blimp Corporation
A-170 series commercial blimp.

May 2006 assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air
Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst
or NAES Lakehurst also known as Maxfield Field, It was formerly Naval Air Station
Lakehurst, and later Naval Air Engineering Center Lakehurst.

In 2007 flight operations were halted and the ship stored in Hangar Six at the naval
air station. In January 2010, the MZ-3A was transferred to the United States Naval
Research Laboratory Military Support Division Scientific Development Squadron ONE
(VXS-1), formerly known as the Flight Support Detachment, located at the Naval Air
Station Pawtuxet River, Maryland.

Currently, the ship is fitted with two, 180HP Lycoming engines, providing a maximum
cruise speed of just under 50kts. Upon completion of its Gulf mission requested by
the USCG. (It was July 5, 2010 when the MZ-3A was re-deployed to the Jack Edwards
National Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama to assist in the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill recovery operation.) The MZ-3A will be fitted with two DeltaHawk turbodiesel
engines for testing.

A most unique pic for Flightaware....

Very nice Joseph

That is one great shot!

Superb composition.