Friends, family, suppliers, staff and supporters of Appliances Online yesterday gathered on The Island, a bar which floats on Syndey Harbour, to toast the official launch of the Appliances Online Legend Blimp.
Invitations resembled boarding passes for ‘Legend Air’ and guests left with a Duty Free gift bag. Appliances Online even printed its own inflight magazine, see below.
![Appliances Online Blimp over Sydney Harbour yesterday.](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Appliances-Online-Blimp-Launch_01-508x338.jpg)
![The Legend Blimp is](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Appliances-Online-Blimp-Lanch_02-508x338.jpg)
![Making an entrance,](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Appliances-Online-Blimp-Launch_06-508x338.jpg)
![The introduction of The Legend has popularised a new pose among Appliances Online staff.](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/appliances_online_winning-508x338.jpg)
![John Winning, 'The Legend' and Peter Harris](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Appliances-Online-Blimp-launch_03-508x363.jpg)
![Peter Harris, COO of Appliances Online reminisced about the early days of the company.](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Appliances-Online-Blimp-Launch_11-508x381.jpg)
![John Winning Junior, and John Winning Senior pose with the The Legend](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Appliances-Online-Blimp-Launch_04-508x379.jpg)
![Helium 'your exclusive Legend AIR inflight magazine'](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/helium-mag-1-360x508.jpg)
![Helium magazine](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/helium-mag-2-508x357.jpg)
![Helium magazine](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/helium-mag-3-508x357.jpg)
![The magazine contains a special feature on blimp captain](https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Helium-mag-4-508x357.jpg)
“I’ve been flying blimps for 14 years, however blimps first took flight in the mid-1800s. The German Zeppelin Company pioneered airships in the early twentieth century, until fixed-wing aircraft eventually took over. Also known as a dirigible, a blimp is a kind of non-rigid airship. It has aircraft engines on each side, and can be steered in a similar way a yacht is steered,” Finney said.
“Similar to an airplane, we have a round-the-clock ground support crew; and stay in constant contact with Air Traffic Controllers all over the country during flights. Appliances Online’s Legend Blimp crew includes two qualified pilots, two licensed aviation mechanics, a crew chief and a clerk, while ground staff includes watch keepers and ground crew. Interestingly, today there are only thirteen active airships in the entire world.”