Scene & Herd: The 'blimp'
It was just another ordinary day at work for Paula McCallister when her boss Vince Giovacchini shouted for her and her co-worker to come outside. Floating high up in the sky above them was what appeared to be a massive blimp. McCallister captured this beautiful photo as it passed overhead, moving towards the fairgrounds. The unexpected sighting caused a lot of excitement for many Petalumans who spotted it last Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026.
Known as Pathfinder 1, the massive rigid airship is a one-off proof-of-concept designed to advance efficient, sustainable, and adaptable air travel – particularly for cargo and humanitarian aid deliveries – according to the company that developed it, Mountain View-based LTA (Lighter Than Air) Research and Exploration.
It's not technically a blimp, since it has a rigid internal frame of carbon fiber and titanium. It measures over 400 feet long and has been described as the world's largest aircraft.
Susan Noonan was eating at the restaurant Blue Plate when she noticed the blimp flying overhead and ran out to take photos and this video on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (Video by SUSAN NOONAN)
Pathfinder 1 operates out of a historic World War II-era hangar at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View. LTA Research runs regular test flights, and last Wednesday's was a particularly long one – up the peninsula, through San Francisco and past the Golden Gate, then over Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, and Santa Rosa before returning back south.
The airship was also spotted soaring over Petaluma on another test flight back in April.
Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/bbzbJnSyy8Q.
Each week Petaluma Voice selects an image or short video that highlights a moment in our town. To contribute, please send photos (with captions) or videos (no longer than one minute) for consideration to photos@petalumavoice.org.
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