(May 22, 2009, upgraded with higher resolution video) -- Several L.A. television stations -- and LBReport.com -- were allowed an opportunity to experience a one-hour flight alongside passengers aboard Airship Ventures' Zeppelin NT now at LB Airport through the Memorial Day weekend.

It was a graceful, visually overpowering, other-worldly lighter-than-air experience.

We were not surprised to learn that Airship Ventures, which began offering passenger, charter and corporate flights from its home base near San Jose last year, says it's had about ten wedding proposals aboard...and just had its first wedding.

In addition to the stunning sights of LB and nearby OC while floating a thousand feet above, we captured the reactions of two passengers riding with us (a young woman and a retired couple).

Airship Ventures says that since arriving in LB for their first southland visit (first reported in LB media by LBReport.com), they've been inundated with phone calls from people seeking to fly.

The company can be reached through its website at www.AirshipVentures.com. Tickets for individual passengers (with taxes) are a little over $500 but two people can fly together for a special rate of a bit over $800. Airship Ventures says it plans to stay through May 25 on this southland visit...and tentatively plans to return in July.

To launch LBReport.com's 14 minute video summarizing the one-hour flight from start to finish, click here. [Now upgraded with higher resolution video...which means a larger file (roughly 120 MB) that takes longer to download but provides larger, clearer images.]

A still photo gallery follows below.

Foreground left is Anaheim St. @ Redondo Ave., looking SW

Looking east: Rec Park, with Blair Field

Heading toward the Belmont Shore

Floating above the SE LB open-space/wetlands (2nd St/Studebaker, looking toward Studebaker/Loynes)

Naples Island and the Peninsula looking west

Looking east across 2nd St to PCH toward wetlands

Willow St. @ Grand Ave., looking east.

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