Why is a Blimp called a Blimp?

Summary

Who Smarted? - Episode Summary: "Why is a Blimp Called a Blimp?"

Release Date: July 21, 2025
Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

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Introduction to Blimps

In this captivating episode of Who Smarted?, the Trusty Narrator takes listeners high above the Super Bowl stadium—literally—aboard a giant blimp. The episode kicks off with an engaging scenario where Trusty uses a teleportation app to join Captain Altitude and co-pilot Kim in the blimp, setting the stage for an adventurous exploration into the world of blimps.

Trusty Narrator (00:02):
"You are not going to believe where I am right now. I'm at the Super Bowl... watching this year's Super Bowl from 1500ft above the stadium in a giant blimp."

Understanding Blimp Operations

The conversation delves into the mechanics of flying a blimp. Captain Altitude explains the delicate balance required between helium and air to control the blimp's altitude.

Captain Altitude (03:45):
"A blimp is basically a giant balloon filled with helium... my main job is to keep the right balance of helium and regular old air in the blimp so that it goes higher and lower when I want it to."

When Trusty asks how this balance is achieved, Captain Altitude elaborates on the process of adding or releasing air to adjust the blimp's altitude.

Trusty Narrator (04:07):
"Is air heavier or lighter than helium?"

Captain Altitude (04:17):
"Because air is heavier than helium, it makes the blimp go lower."

The Origins of the Term "Blimp"

One of the episode’s highlights is the exploration of the intriguing question: Why are they called blimps? Captain Altitude shares the most commonly told story about Lieutenant A.D. Cunningham from Britain's Royal Navy Air Force, who allegedly coined the term in 1915 by imitating the sound of the airship.

Trusty Narrator (05:25):
"I knew it wasn't a real shark. Anywho, where does the word blimp come from anyway?"

Captain Altitude (05:32):
"Believe it or not, nobody knows for sure... Lieutenant A.D. Cunningham... flicked his thumb against the outside and imitated that sound as blimp."

Historical Significance and the Golden Age of Blimps

The episode transitions to the rich history of blimps, highlighting Henri Gifard's pioneering flight in 1852—the first blimp capable of carrying a passenger—predating the Wright brothers' airplane by over half a century.

Captain Altitude (06:12):
"A Frenchman named Henri Gifard... flew it on a 15 mile trial over France in 1852."

As aviation technology advanced, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin's zeppelins became synonymous with blimp travel, especially during the early 20th century.

Trusty Narrator (06:31):
"Until the airplane came along, the blimp was the most popular form of air travel... zeppelins."

Blimps in Warfare: World War I Impact

The narrative shifts to 1914, marking a pivotal moment when blimps were repurposed for military use during World War I. The German army deployed over 100 zeppelins for reconnaissance and bombing missions, instilling fear despite their limited effectiveness.

Captain Altitude (07:08):
"The German army used over 100 zeppelins to both spy on the enemy and to bomb them."

Trusty poses a critical question about the vulnerability of blimps in warfare, leading Captain Altitude to explain the resilience of blimps against enemy fire and the subsequent shift to explosive ammunition that rendered them obsolete.

Trusty Narrator (08:13):
"Wouldn't one bullet just pop it?"

Captain Altitude (08:43):
"With a blimp, the air pressure inside is only slightly higher than the pressure outside... you'd just get a slow leak."

The Hindenburg Disaster: A Turning Point

A major segment discusses the infamous Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937. Trusty and the pilots recount the opulence of the Hindenburg and its tragic end due to a hydrogen gas leak ignited by static electricity, leading to the deaths of 35 out of 97 people on board.

Trusty Narrator (15:46):
"On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg was docking in Lakehurst, New Jersey, when suddenly it caught fire and crashed."

This disaster marked the decline of blimp travel, as public fear soared and the dangers of hydrogen as a lifting gas became apparent.

Post-War Blimp Era and Modern Usage

Despite the setbacks, the episode highlights that blimps didn't vanish entirely. Post-World War II saw a resurgence in blimp usage, particularly for advertising, sightseeing, and aerial filming, including events like the Super Bowl.

Captain Altitude (16:57):
"At the same time, blimps aren't totally going away. They're still great for sightseeing, advertising, transporting freight, and of course, filming the Super Bowl."

However, the economic factors—such as the high cost of helium—pose significant challenges to a full-fledged comeback of blimp travel.

Conclusion: The Future of Blimps

The episode wraps up with a reflective discussion on the future of blimps. While not likely to replace airplanes for passenger travel due to high operational costs, blimps continue to serve niche roles in advertising and media coverage.

Captain Altitude (16:45):
"I doubt it. Blimps are way more expensive to build, operate, and fly."

Kim (16:57):
"At the same time, blimps aren't totally going away..."

Notable Quotes

• Trusty Narrator (05:55):
  "That's crazy. So if he had said Boeing instead, blimps would have been called Boeings."

• Captain Altitude (09:21):
  "The Germans really wanted to use helium because it isn't flammable at all."

• Trusty Narrator (09:32):
  "So if blimps were potentially flying fireballs, I'm guessing that was the last time anyone flew them, in wartime or otherwise, right?"

Behind the Scenes

The episode, titled "Blimps," was written by Steve Helia. The voice cast includes Chris Airship Okawa, Kim Dirigible Davis, Adam Led Zeppelin Davis, Max Colonel Blimp Kamasky, and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design were managed by Josh Hotair Hahn, with production at Relic Room Studios. The theme song was crafted by Brian Gondola Suarez with lyrics by Adam Tex Davis. Production credits also include Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber as creators and producers.

Episode Credits (17:08):
"This episode, Blimps was written by Steve Helia... produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber."

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Who Smarted? continues to blend humor with education, making complex topics like aviation history accessible and entertaining for young audiences. This episode not only answers the intriguing question of why blimps are called blimps but also takes listeners on a historical journey, highlighting the technological and cultural significance of these fascinating airships.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants. You are not going to believe where I am right now. I'm at the Super Bowl. Even better. I have an awesome seat with a great view of the entire field. Whoa. Amazing catch. Now, some of you might be wondering, how can I be at the super bowl watching the game, and yet it's so quiet. Except for the propellers. Propellers? Did I say propellers? I sure did. Because I'm watching this year's Super bowl from 1500ft above the stadium in a giant blimp. Oh, oh, oh. Excuse me, pal. Would you mind keeping it down a little? We're trying to get camera shots of the game, and the entire TV audience can hear you. Oops, Sorry, smarty pants. If you've ever watched a big sporting event on tv, or even better, been to one, you've probably seen a blimp hovering way up high in the sky, getting incredible aerial shots of the action. Hey, check it out. It's the Goodyear blimp. That's mostly what blimps are used for these days. But that wasn't always the case. In fact, blimps have a very interesting history, which I will tell you all about as soon as I learn a little bit more about it myself. Truth be told, I. I used my teleportation app to beam myself from my seat in the stadium up to this blimp in order to ask the pilot lots of blimp related questions, like why are they called blimps? How were they once used by the military? What was the golden age of blimp travel like? And why don't people still travel by blimp today? Sounds like it's time for another whiff of science and history on who Smarted. Who Smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun.

[Captain Altitude]

On who's Smarted.

[Trusty Narrator]

Kids, you have a lot of questions.

[Captain Altitude]

Is a crocodile a dinosaur?

[Trusty Narrator]

Why do people vote?

[Captain Altitude]

How does your food turn into your poop? But why?

[Trusty Narrator]

A podcast for curious kids has answers.

[Captain Altitude]

I'm Jane Lindholm.

[Trusty Narrator]

Join me as we dig deep into everything from science to history, nature, emotions.

[Captain Altitude]

And sometimes even the weird.

[Trusty Narrator]

Why are jellyfishes made of jelly? Or are they made out of jelly? Find.

[Captain Altitude]

But why?

[Trusty Narrator]

Wherever you get your podcasts. Hi again. I was wondering if I could speak to the blimp pilot. You want to talk to the pilot? And you are? I'm the trusty narrator from the who Smarted? Podcast. The Smartypants and I were hoping to learn more about blimps? Yeah, I don't think that's gonna happen. How did you even get in?

[Captain Altitude]

He did you say trusty narrator? And who smarted and smarty pans?

[Trusty Narrator]

I did.

[Captain Altitude]

Wow. What an honor. I'm Captain Altitude and this is my co pilot, Kim.

[Kim]

Welcome aboard, trusty.

[Captain Altitude]

Please join us at the front of the gondola. That's what we call the part of the blimp where the people are. The rest of the blimp is just a giant balloon. Wow.

[Trusty Narrator]

The view is even cooler up front. You sure do have an unusual job, Captain Tude.

[Captain Altitude]

Yep. Did you know there are only about 25 blimps in the entire world these days? That means there's not a huge demand for people who can fly them. Did you know there are more astronauts than blimp islets?

[Kim]

Whoa.

[Trusty Narrator]

So how do you fly one of these things?

[Captain Altitude]

Well, a blimp is basically a giant balloon filled with helium. A lot of helium. Enough to fill more than a million party balloons. My main job is to keep the right balance of helium and regular old air in the blimp so that it goes higher and lower when I want it to.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah. And how do you do that?

[Captain Altitude]

When I want the blimp to go down, I use this control to add more outside air to the balloon. Or what we technically call the envelope.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smartypants. Quick question. Is air heavier or lighter than helium? Did you say heavier? You're right. And because air is heavier than helium, it makes the blimp go lower.

[Captain Altitude]

Nice, Trusty. And when I want the blimp to go up, I use this control to let some air out.

[Trusty Narrator]

Got it.

[Kim]

We have a couple of gasoline powered propellers that propel us forward and a rudder on the back we use to steer.

[Captain Altitude]

And steering is very important when you're covering a big event like the Super Bowl. Trusty narrator. Because the last thing you want is a blimp shark.

[Trusty Narrator]

Blimp shark. Blimp shark. Blimp shark.

[Captain Altitude]

I'm on it.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah. Blimpshark. Blimpshark.

[Captain Altitude]

Where?

[Trusty Narrator]

How? When did sharks start flying and breathing air and attacking blimps?

[Kim]

Relax, Trusty. It's not a real shark. A blimp shark is what we call it when we accidentally cast a blimp shadow on the playing field. This makes it harder for the fans and players to see what's going on.

[Captain Altitude]

Booo.

[Trusty Narrator]

I knew it wasn't a real shark. Anywho, where does the word blimp come from anyway? Any guesses, smarty pants?

[Captain Altitude]

Believe it or not, nobody knows for sure. The story most commonly told is that a Lieutenant A.D. cunningham from Britain's Royal Navy Air force was inspecting an airship. That's what they used to call blimps. Back in 1915, he happened to flick his thumb against the outside of it and imitated that sound as blimp. From there, the name caught on.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's crazy. So if he had said Boeing instead, blimps would have been called Boeings.

[Captain Altitude]

Hmm, I guess you're right.

[Kim]

I'd rather be a blimp pilot than a Boeing pilot.

[Trusty Narrator]

So how long have blimps been around?

[Captain Altitude]

A long ways. A Frenchman named Henri Gifard was the first person to design and fly a blimp capable of carrying a passenger. He flew it on a 15 mile trial over France way back in 1852, more than 50 years before the Wright brothers first plane flight.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow.

[Kim]

Until the airplane came along, the blimp was the most popular form of air travel. In fact, the world's first passenger airline, which started in 1909, flew a kind of blimp called zeppelins.

[Captain Altitude]

That fleet of zeppelins was built by a German inventor named Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, which is how they got their name. By 1914, the Count's airships had carried more than 10,000 passengers on over 1500 flights. But in 1914, Blimps suddenly took on a whole new role. Hmm.

[Trusty Narrator]

What happened in 1914 that totally changed the way blimps were used? Smarty pants, Was it the first super bowl, the first space travel, or the first world War? If you said the first world war, you're right.

[Captain Altitude]

The German army used over 100 zeppelins to both spy on the enemy and to bomb them. People became terrified by the sight of giant war blimps approaching. However, there was just one problem.

[Kim]

The Germans quickly learned it's pretty hard to hit a target from a blimp.

[Captain Altitude]

Miss. Yeah, that was also a miss.

[Trusty Narrator]

A hit. Wunderbar.

[Captain Altitude]

Oh, no. Sorry. That was also a miss. And when it was cloudy, forget it.

[Trusty Narrator]

But wait, smarty pants. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Wouldn't it be very easy to shoot down a blimp? It's a giant floating balloon. Wouldn't one bullet just pop it?

[Captain Altitude]

Surprisingly, no. When you pop a balloon, it deflates instantly because the air pressure inside is much higher than the pressure outside. With a blimp, the air pressure inside is only slightly higher than the pressure outside. So if the balloon or envelope got punctured, you'd just get a slow leak, kind of like a car tire. When you run over A nail.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah.

[Captain Altitude]

Of course, when the Allied forces came up with explosive ammunition later in the war, the war blimp was finished.

[Trusty Narrator]

Why was that, Captain Tude?

[Captain Altitude]

Because blimps have bad gas? No, not that kind of gas. The gas used to inflate zeppelins was one of the most flammable gases on earth.

[Trusty Narrator]

Flammable means it catches fire easily. So what kind of gas do you think that was, smarty pants? Was it A, hydrogen, B, helium, or C neon? Did you say hydrogen? Nice work.

[Captain Altitude]

The Germans really wanted to use helium because it isn't flammable at all. But at the time, America had control over nearly all the world's helium, and we weren't giving Germany any of it.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. So if blimps were potentially flying fireballs, I'm guessing that was the last time anyone flew them, in wartime or otherwise, right?

[Kim]

You'd think, but no. The years after the war were the golden age of blimp air travel.

[Captain Altitude]

Until one very famous disaster brought blimps crashing down.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smarty pants, can you guess who what that famous disaster was? We'll tell you all about it right after this quick break. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Summer is the perfect time to finally take a few hours and launch that business. Seriously, if you've been sitting on an idea, Squarespace makes it feel not just doable, but exciting. I used it to build a site for one of our projects. And what really surprised me was Blueprint, their AI powered site builder. You type in a few details about what you're creating and boom, you've got a beautiful personalized website layout in minutes. Plus, if you're offering services like coaching or teaching or consulting, Squarespace has tools built right in online. Payments, scheduling, even branded invoices. You can literally go from idea to income without ever leaving the platform. So if you've been waiting for the right moment, this is it. No more if only I knew how to build a site or if I only had the time. Now you've got both, thanks to Squarespace, and at a price that's right for any small business. So head to squarespace.com smarted for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, use code smarted to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Hey, guys, it's trusty. Summer break is here. And while the kids are thrilled, a lot of parents are quietly wondering, how do we keep their brains from going totally mushroom? That's where IXL comes in. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into your homeschool routine or your summer rhythm. Whether your child is catching up, staying sharp, or getting a head start, IXL makes learning feel natural and fun, not like more school. What I love most is that it's flexible and personalized. Whether your kid is brushing up on third grade math or diving into middle school reading, IXL meets them right where they are and lets them move at their own pace. It also saves you time. Everything's organized by grade and subject with real time feedback, progress tracking, and step by step video tutorials that explain mistakes without judgment, just growth. So make an impact on your child's learning even when school's not in session. Get IXL now and who Smarted listeners get an exclusive 20% off IXL when you sign up today at ixl.com smarted that's ixl.com smarted.com hi smarty pants. It's the trusty narrator, the host of who Smarted First. A big welcome to all our new listeners. Welcome to the Smarty family. Here's a nice five star review from one of you. Hi Trusty. This is my new favorite podcast. I listen in the car with my sister and even before bed. I'm telling all my friends too. Sean P. Ohio Thanks Sean, and that's a great idea. So, Smarty Famous, would you mind doing me a favor? Tell one friend or another parent or an educator today about WhoSmarted. Because the only thing that's better than listening to WhoSmarted is listening to WhoSmarted with a friend. Now back to WhoSmarted. My new blimp friends, Captain Al Tude and co pilot Kim have been giving us a big whiff of history about blimps. Do I smell gas? Oh, that was me. Yep.

[Captain Altitude]

Sorry about that.

[Trusty Narrator]

Anyway, we're just getting to the glory days.

[Captain Altitude]

In 1928, Germany unveiled the Graf Zeppelin, the largest airship ever built. At 776ft, it was as long as two and a half football fields.

[Trusty Narrator]

And I thought the Goodyear blimp was huge.

[Captain Altitude]

It is. But this thing was three times as long and twice as tall. And it set all kinds of records. For example, it offered the first passenger flights across the Atlantic Ocean 10 years before they did it with airplanes. And it once flew all the way around the world in just 21 days, which was the fastest anyone had ever circled the globe.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's surprising, because you don't exactly think of blimps as being fast.

[Captain Altitude]

While the Graf Zeppelin could go up to 80 miles per hour in all, it made 144 trips across the Atlantic and was the first aircraft in history to travel over 1 million miles. But it still couldn't compete with the most famous blimp of all time.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smarty pants, what was the name of that most famous blimp? Was it the Hildeberger, the Schopenhauer, or the Hindenburg? If you said the Hindenburg, you're right. And unfortunately, the Hindenburg is the most famous blimp because its last flight ended in tragedy. But thanks to my teleporter, we can visit the Hindenburg before that fateful night.

[Captain Altitude]

Ah, there she is, Trusty narrator. The Hindenburg, even longer than the Graf Zeppelin and nearly as long as the Titanic, whose story also ended badly. Iceberg.

[Trusty Narrator]

I can't believe how nice the Hindenburg looks inside.

[Kim]

Oh, yeah. Hindenburg passengers traveled in style. At today's prices, a one way ticket across the Atlantic would cost over $8,000. The Hindenburg had all the luxuries of a fancy ocean line, including private cabins, observation decks, an elegant restaurant, and even a baby grand piano.

[Captain Altitude]

Whoa.

[Trusty Narrator]

No wonder people wanted to fly in it.

[Captain Altitude]

Yep, until the accident. On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg was docking in Lakehurst, New Jersey, when suddenly it caught fire and crashed. Even today, no one's sure exactly why, but most experts think a hydrogen leak may have been ignited by static electricity. 35 of the 97 people on board died in the crash, and no one wanted to travel by blimp after that.

[Trusty Narrator]

I sure wouldn't.

[Captain Altitude]

Well, at least until they stopped filling blimps with hydrogen and started using good old helium like our blimp.

[Trusty Narrator]

Speaking of, let's get back to your blimp. So now that blimps aren't as dangerous, will they make a comeback? Will people start floating to Europe again instead of flying?

[Captain Altitude]

I doubt it. Blimps are way more expensive to build, operate, and fly. It costs about $100,000 just to fill our blimp with helium.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow, talk about inflation.

[Kim]

At the same time, blimps aren't totally going away. They're still great for sightseeing, advertising, transporting freight, and of course, filming the Super Bowl.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah, the game's over. Where were you guys? Whoops. Nice meeting you all. Bye. A high flying shout out to Tristan in Lake Tahoe. We hear you've been fascinated with Whosmarted since the very beginning, and you still can't get enough. You listen at night and during the day, and we just love knowing how much fun you're having while learning. Way to go, Tristan. This episode, Blimps was written by Steve Helia. Melcher and voiced by Chris Airship Okawa Kim Dirigible Davis, Adam. Led Zeppelin Davis, Max. Colonel Blimp Kamasky and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hotair Hahn who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Gondola Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.