The Blimp is GO! :)

[greves]

Sorry it's in the wrong forum, but this is awesome news!!!!

http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/

Innaugural Launch blow-by-blow
December 14th, 2007 by Katharine Memole

We’re scheduled for an 8am EST launch.

We had a few minutes of live blimp feed on Justin.tv from Trevor, Elijah and Daniel before they lost their signal.

The receptionist at the blimp hangar told me that the pilots went out to the blimp several minutes ago and everything seems good to go.

8:26AM EST– I have yet to receive confirmation of liftoff. Once the blimp is launched it will start its journey to Charlotte, NC where it will stay tonight.

8:58AM EST — I think the guys may be encountering overall bad signals that are making it hard for them to be in contact with us. I will update ASAP.

9:01AM EST–Blimp took off for its flyover of Raleigh 2 minutes ago.

http://www.ronpaulblimpblog.com/

[LibertyEagle]

Is Ron Paul on BOTH sides of the blimp, or just one?

[greves]

Is Ron Paul on BOTH sides of the blimp, or just one?

Just one is up.

[Falseflagop]

NC will get to google RP today!

[ronpaulfan]

We had a few minutes of live blimp feed on Justin.tv from Trevor, Elijah and Daniel before they lost their signal.


Justin.tv is the worst invention in the history of the internet :(

[NinjaPirate]

Why are we flying 1/2 nekkid??!

[hasan]

Go Blimp !!

[gb13]

Go, Blimp!!!

Fly that motherfucker high! :D

[Jimmy]

Cool :cool: Whats the plan about getting the second banner on that sucker?

[LibertyEagle]

NC will get to google RP today!

Since only 1/2 of the blimp has a banner, do we only pay half the amount for flying it around?

[LibertyEagle]

Just one is up.

WHEN do they plan on getting the other side bannered?

[Duckman]

Since only 1/2 of the blimp has a banner, do we only pay half the amount for flying it around?

I have to agree, the blimp is an advertising venture. If someone bought a double-sided billboard and only one side was pasted up, I can assure you the person buying the advertisments would be entitled to at least a partial refund.

I don't want a refund. I want the blimp to be done right.

I understand there have been setbacks, some out of the control of the blimp team, but launching with one banner despite the fact that 80% of the grassroots wanted the blimp team to wait to have both banners on before launching is going to hit the blimp team where it hurts, that is, when they need extra donations.

[Slist]

WHEN do they plan on getting the other side bannered?

On ronpaulradio they said monday. They need 5 hours to put one on.

[Stealth4]

Someone obviously didnt do their planning with the sign making company. Dissapointing.

[FluffyUnbound]

I think because of the media notice the blimp has received it was critical to get airborne today. If they fly it around for a while and then bring it back to the hangar and add the other panel, hey - I can live with that.

[shadowhooch]

I think because of the media notice the blimp has received it was critical to get airborne today. If they fly it around for a while and then bring it back to the hangar and add the other panel, hey - I can live with that.

Good point. So was there media there?

[Real_CaGeD]

There is a storm coming anyway. This provides perfect time to add other banner.

[jake]

There is a storm coming anyway. This provides perfect time to add other banner.

Indeed. 5 days without the one banner isn't the end of the world :)

[jdmyprez_deo_vindice]

I havent said anything about the blimp because I figured it was a waste of time getting worked up about it. So I was delighted - make that THRILLED to wake up and find out that the blimp is in the air. Granted it only has one of the banners on but I am sure the second one will be attached in the very near future. I know people tend to get worked up over things like this but let's stop and think about this. WE HAVE A FRIGGIN BLIMP AND IT IS IN THE AIR? Can we just rejoice in this accomplishment and come together and supporters and relish in this? We have a freakin blimp and other candidates are having trouble raising money for a bus. Good job to the blimp team, I and many others salute you!

[dshields]

Guys/Gals, lets focus on the fact we are in the air. Obviously adding the second banner will not be an issue and will only be off for a few days of the 30 days it will be in the air.

This is happening, and we are now all apart of history by lauching he first Presidential Blimp!!!!!!! SWEET!

Dave

[Brutus]

I'm glad they're going with one banner if that is all that can be done for now. Missing an entire weekend, particularly THIS weekend would have been a very bad thing. Obviously TWO banners would have been better, and so would launching earlier in the week and any number of other improvements. However, this is a NEW project and we should be forgiving of things not going exactly as planned the first time.


Go Blimp!

[squirrelbrewer]

Congratulations to everyone whose time, money, and hard work went it to making this happen. You are true patriots!

[AdamT]

If the goal is to be over Boston on the 16th, and time was short, then one banner is MUCH better than no blimp in Boston. After Boston they land and attach the second banner. All good.

[szczebrzeszyn]

What Boston? There's no Boston in the plans.

[hellah10]

this will work itself out in the end... the blimp being in south carolina is not a big deal considering its one of the 4 early states...

even if the blimp was all a go in time, we would be running into headaches with the weather...

people are already calling this a failure before its had its chance to prove itself.

lets just be patient :) and let it unfold itself :)

[Cleaner44]

I think because of the media notice the blimp has received it was critical to get airborne today. If they fly it around for a while and then bring it back to the hangar and add the other panel, hey - I can live with that.

I can live with that also. Go Liberty Blimp!

[voytechs]

You can easily setup a live feed with camstreams.com for free and it works.

[markj]

Blimpin! :cool:

[speciallyblend]

Blimpin

[wisconsinite]

If the goal is to be over Boston on the 16th, and time was short, then one banner is MUCH better than no blimp in Boston. After Boston they land and attach the second banner. All good.

It's not going to Boston

[stown]

this will work itself out in the end... the blimp being in south carolina is not a big deal considering its one of the 4 early states...

even if the blimp was all a go in time, we would be running into headaches with the weather...

people are already calling this a failure before its had its chance to prove itself.

lets just be patient :) and let it unfold itself :)

Especially since this is on Drudge:

CNN POLL: SOUTH CAROLINA

Huckabee 24%
Thompson 17%
Giuliani 16%
Romney 16%
McCain 13%
Paul 11%

They are finally including him!

[Mark]

9:01AM EST–Blimp took off for its flyover of Raleigh 2 minutes ago.

http://www.ronpaulblimpblog.com/

Why fly over Raleigh on the way to Boston? Raleigh's in the wrong direction from Elizabeth city.

According to the map their going to SC. I hope they can make Bostonin by Sunday. I suppose they know what they're doing.

I'll have to get my camera and hope I can see and "picture" it when it passes by.

(edit: nevermind.. read through the posts)

[FireofLiberty]

Anyone have an ETA of when it will reach Raleigh? Is it flying over downtown?

[FireofLiberty]

Guys, I need to know this so I can contact the local media.

[Mark]

Anyone have an ETA of when it will reach Raleigh? Is it flying over downtown?

Has anyone contacted the media in Raleigh? TV, newspapers?

[FireofLiberty]

I will as soon as I have an ETA of approx. when it will arrive or at least whether it will be downtown or not.

[CAKochenash]

hahaha ...blimpin for sho...

[Mark]

I will as soon as I have an ETA of approx. when it will arrive or at least whether it will be downtown or not.

I hear ya, the map says 12 noon, I say we call them anyway. can't hurt. It'd be a great "live" shot for the noon news.

http://ondecember16th.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/flight1.jpg

[OferNave]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/2110136951_b86fc8d881.jpg?v=0

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21836324@N02/2110136951/in/set-72157603458016531/

[FireofLiberty]

Alright, I have contacted the following about the blimp:

WRAL (CBS)
WTVD (ABC)
NBC17 (NBC)

...all of which are Triangle TV stations.

I have also contacted the Raleigh "News and Observer."

[FireofLiberty]

I hear ya, the map says 12 noon, I say we call them anyway. can't hurt. It'd be a great "live" shot for the noon news.

http://ondecember16th.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/flight1.jpg

If they want the media to pay attention than they need to fly it right over downtown. I hope they do. That would also make for awesome pictures and an incredible scene. I've also contacted Matt, who runs the website www.raleighskyline.com, to let him know about this. Hopefully he'll be able to get some pictures of it. His pictures are INCREDIBLE.

[curtisag]

Cue the band!

Start the music!

GO BLIMP GO!

[Mark]

Alright, I have contacted the following about the blimp:

WRAL (CBS)
WTVD (ABC)
NBC17 (NBC)

...all of which are Triangle TV stations.

I have also contacted the Raleigh "News and Observer."

I called them too.. I called News 14 also (local cable 24 hours station) they hadn't heard yet.. looking up Channel 22 WLFL now..

[Vendico]

Is it flying over the highways? That's fab!

[Mark]

called the "Independant" weekly ..

local AP desk knows

will find the Durham paper next

[speciallyblend]

this is freakin great, we are spreading the message now and many local/state media will force the old media to cover it;) this is about to explode across america in the media sources;)

[Jojo]

Has anyone contacted the media in Raleigh? TV, newspapers?

The blimp has a paid staff of 20 people I believe. I'm hoping they took care of this.

[speciallyblend]

Blimpin

[derdy]

Here's some pics of the launch

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21836324@N02/sets/72157603458016531/

[jjockers]

I guess this is a question that may not be 'answer-able': will the blimp be viewable sometime after 12 in Chapel Hill? Looks like it may be nearby!

[Mark]

I guess this is a question that may not be 'answer-able': will the blimp be viewable sometime after 12 in Chapel Hill? Looks like it may be nearby!

I would think so... it's headed to Greensboro (see map above)

I called a lot of smaller local papers too

[FireofLiberty]

It looks like it may go over Durham too.

[Mark]

The blimp has a paid staff of 20 people I believe. I'm hoping they took care of this.

You would think so, but several people I've called didn't know, newspapers & TV,
and that's counting the ones FireofLiberty (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/member.php?u=5850) called.

The local 24 hour news station who is hungry for news to cover didn't know.

Way to "drop the blimp" paid staff.

[Mark]

It looks like it may go over Durham too.


I just called the Durham herald sun newspaper..

[Mark]

I'm hoping peeps in Chapel Hill, Greensboro et al contact their respective media.

The blimp people didn't seem to do it.

edit: which I'm not too happy about considering their business is advertisement.
What are they thinking by not contacting media outlets in the places they're flying over???

Amateurs doing a professional's job it seems.

[speciallyblend]

well lets help them out,and organize a media call for the whole path of the blimp and then call nearby towns as well:)

[speciallyblend]

thanks mark,i nominate mark to lead this charge;) mark when your ready to go ski colorado,ill teach you ok;) keep you in one piece to;)

[FireofLiberty]

Mark, if you want you could get started contacting the Charlotte TV stations while I work on the Greensboro media (news and TV) and the Charlotte newspapers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_Carolina

[speciallyblend]

thanks fire of liberty

[SWATH]

YES! Now it needs to go to New York and carpet bomb the Federal Reserve with monopoly money and Ron Paul dollars.

[Mark]

Mark, if you want you could get started contacting the Charlotte TV stations while I work on the Greensboro media (news and TV) and the Charlotte newspapers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_stations_in_North_Carolina

Sounds like a plan Fire.. will do...

[FireofLiberty]

Just contacted:
WXII-TV (NBC)
WFMY-TV 2 (CBS)

Both Greensboro. Anyone feel free to contact these stations behind me. The more people who call/e-mail about it the more motivated they'll be to report on it.

[Mark]

thanks mark,i nominate mark to lead this charge;) mark when your ready to go ski colorado,ill teach you ok;) keep you in one piece to;)

Thanks SB,
Lord knows I'd need help doing that.
The one time I went skiing I never could figure out how to do it like the "regulars". :D

Here's a great link for TV Stations in NC:

North Carolina TV stations

http://www.newslink.org/nctele.html

I'll holla at Charlotte next

[FireofLiberty]

Just contacted the Greensboro News & Record (newspaper).

[JMann]

Someone obviously didnt do their planning with the sign making company. Dissapointing.

Will you ig'nant complainers people go to ronpaulblimp.com. The stories are all there as to what is going on. It usually takes months and months to get something like this done and this was basically put together in a week.

[FireofLiberty]

Contacted the Charlotte Observer (newspaper) but couldn't get through to anyone. I left a voice mail.

[Mark]

Here's a link for NC newspapers:

North Carolina Newspapers

http://www.usnpl.com/ncnews.php

[kotetu]

It's FLYING!!!! WOOHOOO!!! GO! ALERT THE PEOPLE! RON PAUL IS COMING! RON PAUL IS COMING! :D

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Will the blimp fly at night?

[FreeTraveler]

It's FLYING!!!! WOOHOOO!!! GO! ALERT THE PEOPLE! RON PAUL IS COMING! RON PAUL IS COMING! :D

Dang! How many lanterns should that be? Three??

[Ethek]

Dang! How many lanterns should that be? Three??

LOL

[Mark]

WSOC - ABC

WCCB - Fox (knew, had advisories already)

WBTV - CBS (did not know)

WCNC - NBC (did not know)

WJZW - WBTV does their news

I think that's all the channels that have news broadcasts in Charlotte

[bgoldwater]

What ever happened to the ron paul revolution side?

[Mark]

Anyone know where to submit a "Media Advisory" to go to all media outlets?

North Carolina and/or others?

It'd come in handy at other times too.

[Bergie Bergeron]

What ever happened to the ron paul revolution side?

It's going to be up Monday.

[Mark]

What ever happened to the ron paul revolution side?

It's not ready yet. It should be put on later.

http://ondecember16th.com/


Time to think positive thoughts… (http://ondecember16th.com/archives/26)

December 13th, 2007 by Katharine Memole To get the second banner (r[evol]ution) to the hangar in Elizabeth City, NC by 2AM in Friday, December 12th. That is the latest we can receive it and still get the banner on the blimp and get the blimp out of the hangar early enough to avoid winds that could strand it.


Originally the owner of www.personalblimp.com (http://www.personalblimp.com) (whose company made the banners) was going to fly a commercial flight to Elizabeth City, NC with the banner earlier tonight. The weather in Massachusetts was so bad he couldn’t fly so he embarked on a journey through almost blizzard like conditions in a Toyota minivan with some companions. They are currently en route.
11:40 PM EST


Update:
The bannermobile is currently in New Jersey and about 6 hours from Elizabeth City, NC. Sounds like they have made it out of the bad weather safely but probably will not arrive in NC until 7am.

[Lucid American]

So, where exactly is that where it is landing at 6:45?

Will the blimp be coming to Atlanta area? (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!)

[Jimmy]

WSOC - ABC

WCCB - Fox (knew, had advisories already)

WBTV - CBS (did not know)

WCNC - NBC (did not know)

WJZW - WBTV does their news

I think that's all the channels that have news broadcasts in Charlotte

Weres theres numbers....could someone post them? Damn this is what its all about :D

[Mark]

Haven't seen the blimp, just the daily Chemtrails as usual.

[Mark]

Weres theres numbers....could someone post them? Damn this is what its all about :D

I had to find them at each website. I contacted the Charlotte Stations. (see link)

There are plenty of others.

North Carolina TV stations

http://www.newslink.org/nctele.html

[Mark]

So, where exactly is that where it is landing at 6:45?

Will the blimp be coming to Atlanta area? (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!)

I don't think Atlanta. (sorry)

http://ondecember16th.com/

12/14/07 (Friday)

6:30 open the gates
8:00 am launch - Elizabeth City, NC
12:00 noon - Raleigh, NC (fly through, north of city)
3:00 pm - Greensboro, NC (fly through, north of city)
6:00 pm - Arrive 20 miles outside of Charlotte
6:30 to 7:00 pm landing time–the blimp will overnight at Chester Airport 12/15/07 (Saturday)

Exposure flights over TBD sites in SC. If the weather behaves those could include Charlotte, Greensville, and more 12/16/07 (Sunday)

In Columbia, SC area for Tea Party. If the weather is good there will be flyovers and media flights.

http://ondecember16th.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/flight1.jpg