page_title: American Blimp MZ-3
hierarchical_section_title: American Blimp MZ-3
caption_attribution_description: English: Handlers prepare to launch the U.S. Navy MZ-3A manned airship for an orientation flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., on Nov. 6, 2013. The MZ-3A is assigned to Scientific Development Squadron 1 of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Military Support Division. The Navy blimp is an advanced flying laboratory that is being used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads and provide support for related naval research projects.
context_page_description: The American Blimp MZ-3A is a blimp owned by the United States Navy from 2006 to 2017. It is a modified American Blimp Corporation A-170 series commercial blimp and given the USN type/model/series designation MZ-3A and Bureau Number 167811. After delivery to the Navy, the airship began operations as an advanced flying laboratory used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads, the development of new lighter-than-air technologies and general flight support for other related research and development/science and technology projects. It was the last airship to be operated by the U. S. military.
context_section_description: The American Blimp MZ-3A is a blimp owned by the United States Navy from 2006 to 2017. It is a modified American Blimp Corporation A-170 series commercial blimp and given the USN type/model/series (T/M/S) designation MZ-3A and Bureau Number (BuNo) 167811. After delivery to the Navy, the airship began operations as an advanced flying laboratory used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads, the development of new lighter-than-air (LTA) technologies and general flight support for other related research and development/science and technology (R&D/S&T) projects. It was the last airship to be operated by the U. S. military.
caption: The MZ-3A at NAS Patuxent River in November 2013
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