Manufacturing Minute: This Plane-Blimp Hybrid Is Called A Plimp

The unmanned 28-foot aircraft contains a helium-filled envelope that gives the craft the buoyancy of a blimp.

Jon Minnick
Oct 11, 2017
Latest in Aerospace
Accounting for Manufacturing Companies
Sponsored
Accounting for Manufacturing Companies
September 15, 2025
The Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park, which is the home to a newly opened Boeing Engineering Center.
Boeing Opens New Engineering Center at Florida Research Park
September 12, 2025
Northrop Grumman’s B-21 flight test aircraft arrives at Edwards Air Force Base.
Northrop Grumman Advances B-21 Raider Across Test, Production
September 12, 2025
Proposed autonomous air system rendering.
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, BAE Systems' FalconWorks Announce Strategic Collaboration
September 10, 2025
Related Stories
(Image credit: Goodyear)
Aerospace
Photos Of The Day: Goodyear's New Airship To Sail Over 10 States Headed To Base
Mnet 108950 Space X Launch Ap
Aerospace
SpaceX Launches 10 More Iridium Communications Satellites
Mnet 108949 Pence Nasa Ap
Aerospace
Pence Pledges That US Will Go To The Moon, Mars And Beyond
Accounting for Manufacturing Companies
Sponsor Content
Accounting for Manufacturing Companies
More in Aerospace
Accounting for Manufacturing Companies
Sponsored
Accounting for Manufacturing Companies
Is your manufacturing or distribution business in need of financial guidance? Our top-50 CPA firm specializes in audit, tax, and strategic consulting to help businesses like yours streamline operations and maximize profitability.
September 15, 2025
The Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park, which is the home to a newly opened Boeing Engineering Center.
Aerospace
Boeing Opens New Engineering Center at Florida Research Park
The new 65,000 square foot facility is expected to create 400 jobs.
September 12, 2025
Northrop Grumman’s B-21 flight test aircraft arrives at Edwards Air Force Base.
Aerospace
Northrop Grumman Advances B-21 Raider Across Test, Production
Another B-21 Raider has been added to the test campaign while preparing to accelerate production.
September 12, 2025
Proposed autonomous air system rendering.
Aerospace
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, BAE Systems' FalconWorks Announce Strategic Collaboration
The two divisions will work together to create common design for autonomous air systems.
September 10, 2025
The Nashville, Tenn. skyline is seen July 15, 2025.
Aerospace
Man Pleads Guilty to Charges That He Meant to Bomb Nashville Power Site with Drone
He faces up to life in prison.
September 9, 2025
John Bird, Ph.D., and Afroza Shirin, Ph.D., stand with a model aircraft used in their research on soaring.
Aerospace
UTEP Engineers Seek to Translate the Mysteries of Bird Flight Into Aircraft
Multimillion DARPA grant funds research into autonomous soaring.
September 9, 2025
The uncrewed MQ-28 platform.
Aerospace
Boeing, RAAF Prove MQ-28 Operational Effectiveness
The operation has been completed four months ahead of schedule.
September 8, 2025
A SpaceX logo is displayed on a building on May 26, 2020, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Aerospace
Musk's SpaceX Spends $17 Billion to Acquire Spectrum Licenses from EchoStar
The move looks to beef up the Starlink satellite network.
September 8, 2025
Beta A250 1 In Flight
Aerospace
GE Aerospace Building a Hybrid Turbogenerator to Boost Electric Aircraft Range
The company is investing $300 million in BETA Aircraft.
September 4, 2025
The S10s loitering munition drone, part of the PabloM defense portfolio.
Aerospace
South Korean Drone Startup Pablo Air Merges with Defense Component Manufacturer Volk
Merger allows for defense-certified mass production.
September 5, 2025
A family member wears a photo of a Boeing crash victim Danielle Moore before a hearing at federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.
Aerospace
Families of Boeing Crash Victims Urge Judge to Reject Deal Sparing Company from Prosecution
Tragedy, accountability, and the fight for truth behind fatal 737 Max crashes.
September 4, 2025
Pyka Pelican 2 Heinen Bros
Aerospace
Autonomous Crop-Spraying Drone Finds Its First Major U.S. Distributor
The first Pelican 2 aircraft are expected to be delivered in the coming months.
September 4, 2025
Mfc Pac 3 Mse Army Signing
Aerospace
Lockheed Martin Lands $9.8B Patriot Missile Production Contract
It's the largest contract in Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control history.
September 4, 2025
Aerospace component 3D-printing.
Aerospace
Top 3 Metals to Make Aerospace 3D-Printed Component Manufacturing More Efficient
Game-changing metals transforming aerospace manufacturing with cutting-edge 3D printing.
September 3, 2025
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, drones and other armament formations pass during the military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.
Aerospace
China's Military Parade Reveals New Hypersonic Missiles, Drone Submarines, ICBMs
The country's arsenal underwent a massive modernization program.
September 3, 2025