Let me fly away in a ship!

January 25, 2007 4:07 AM

Where does one go to buy an airship?

Once I have reached the level of wealth of a Bill Gates or a Google co-founder, I'd like to buy an airship. Could anyone shed light on where exactly I can buy one and what sort of price range I should expect to pay?

I know this may seem slightly extravagant, but I'd just like to know. I don't see any listed on eBay or Craigslist.

posted by tommorris to travel & transportation (15 comments total)

Try Googling "airship sales". As for prices, looks like anything from $27k to $2.75M.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:19 AM on January 25, 2007

Wow.. Great question. But so easily googlable.

How many people do you need to carry? The Lindstrand HS110 looks like fun if you want a 2-seater.
posted by Leon at 4:25 AM on January 25, 2007

Personal Blimp
posted by plinth at 5:02 AM on January 25, 2007

Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH, and around € 7,000,000.

(Note; I do not speak from personal experience. The closest I’ve been to a Zeppelin was passing through Friedrichshafen airport, twice. But still, owning an actual Zeppelin? How awesome would that be?)
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 5:32 AM on January 25, 2007

It looks like the majority lighter-than-air craft that are commercially available are hot air balloons and blimps; if you are looking for something semi-rigid, it look like the original Zeppelin is still your best bet. They do have a sales dept. listed on their website.
posted by TedW at 5:38 AM on January 25, 2007

Snafu'ed again by not previewing!
posted by TedW at 5:40 AM on January 25, 2007

You might try looking in the DuPont Registry. Their website kinda sucks, but the magazine is fabulous for all of your luxury transportation needs.
posted by stovenator at 6:23 AM on January 25, 2007

You might be better off investing in something else. The world's supply of helium is finite; though it won't entirely vanish right away, there's greater need for the element in the industrial sector.
posted by Smart Dalek at 6:24 AM on January 25, 2007

Wow, the first question on Mefi that I tagged that wasn't mine! This is a question I would've found myself asking when I reached astronomical income levels. However, if you're like me, you're not going to find what you're looking for. They just don't make Hindenburgs anymore. :) But, we can both always hope!

robocop, just brilliant.
posted by Spoonman at 6:27 AM on January 25, 2007

These folks will build one to order for you.
posted by buggzzee23 at 7:02 AM on January 25, 2007

I know this may seem slightly extravagant, but I'd just like to know.

If you want extravagant, you want a Gulfstream 550. It has sufficient range to take you from one point to any other point on the earth with at most one refueling stop. Fully configured with a nice custom interior, you can expect it to set you back over USD $90 M. That should be enough to show the upstarts in the Zeppelin who is really successful.

If you don't need to jet between Seattle and Dubai, consider the Cessna Citation X, the fastest bizjet on the market. I can't recall the prices, but they should be inline with the G-V above.

Boeing aircraft from the little 737 all the way up to the 747 are popular luxury private aircraft. Larry and Sergey share a 767. I think Paul Allen has a 757, but then Paul's massive boats blow his jet away in terms of extravagent luxuries.

Apparently there is one Tu-144 left in flying condition. The only problem is that it has been fitted with military-spec Russian engines, and the Russians don't want them in non-Russian hands. Figure out how to buy that beast and you will be the envy of billionaires everywhere.
posted by b1tr0t at 7:34 AM on January 25, 2007

Moller Skycar!

http://www.moller.com/

Pricing info

Looks a bit like a mechanized Calder sculpture, but come on now, flying car!
posted by zackola at 7:56 AM on January 25, 2007

A luxe jet? What's the hurry?

A Zeppelin is proof you're rich enough to bend everyone else's time.
posted by notyou at 9:08 AM on January 25, 2007

I've looked into it in the past, and know the answer, but that's already been posted, so I'll give you the real answer:

Once you have reached the level of wealth of a Bill Gates or a Google co-founder, you describe to your aides what kind of airship you would like, and they come back with photos and details for a purchase for you to evaluate and sign off on. Then a later on, your new blimp arrives at your private airfield.

You... you do have a private airfield, right?

:-)
posted by -harlequin- at 2:17 PM on January 25, 2007

I'd rather have an airship hanger than an actual airship.
posted by b1tr0t at 2:20 PM on January 25, 2007