Of interest to SatMagazine readers could be the latest incorporation of a technology that harkens back many decades — the Zeppelin. The largest airship in the world, the Airship Ventures Zeppelin, has successfully completed its trans-oceanic crossing from Hamburg, Germany to Beaumont, Texas.

One of only three Zeppelins in the world, and the first to come to the U.S., the airship was off-loaded at the Port of Beaumont and will be flown cross country to its permanent home at historic Moffett Field in Mountain View, California. Departure from Beaumont is slated for October 17th. This historic flight will mark the first time in 71 years that a Zeppelin has flown in the skies over the United States. This landmark transit flight flight will also be dedicated to the memory of aviation adventurer Steve Fossett, who set the airship speed record in the Zeppelin – a record that still stands today.

Says Steve Fossett’s widow Peggy Fossett, “I am honored that Airship Ventures would dedicate this flight to Steve’s memory. He was truly proud to have been part of the Zeppelin project.” Kate Board, the world’s first female Zeppelin pilot, added, “Steve Fossett was such a hero to me, and more so once he flew the Zeppelin. I’m sure he would have wanted to fly a leg of this transit with us!”

Once in the San Francisco Bay Area, the airship will offer the only passenger airship flight service in America. “Flightseeing” tours will be offered from several Bay Area locations, showcasing the San Francisco Bay/Silicon Valley, Sonoma/Napa wine regions, and Monterey/Big Sur coastline. The airship will also be used for a variety of technological and scientific research missions. Round-trip rides from historic Moffett Field will start in late October 2008, with flights from Oakland International and Sonoma County Airport starting in November.