Close

Sun Subscriber Website Login




Username:  

Password:  



Please wait....
 
News Story
Updated: 01/24/2013 09:34:24PM

‘Fat Albert’
to come down after 33 years

Share this story:


The Associated Press

Text Size:


KEY WEST (AP) — Officials say a military blimp that’s been tethered in the Florida Keys for more than three decades is coming down for good.

An internal email by Exelis Systems Corp. — the defense contractor that operates the blimps nationally — says Air Force blimp known as “Fat Albert” that hovers over Cudjoe Key will end its 33-year flight on March 15.

The Key West Citizen reports that the blimp — a Tethered Aerostat Radar System — is part of an Air Force program that is being cut. The Air Force told Exelis employees on Jan. 15 that TARS sites all along the U.S. southern border will be eliminated.

The 250,000 cubic-foot blimp was the first such aerostat used by the Air Force. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard use the blimps in counter-drug trafficking operations.


Reader Comments (1)

Previous Page | Next Page

Submit your comment below:







  

* = Required information

Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming", "trolling", or any other inappropriate material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content you post. All comments must comply with the Terms and Conditions of this site and by submitting comments you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions.


ADVERTISEMENT