METLIFE BLIMP PROGRAM CELEBRATES 20 YEARS SINCE MAIDEN VOYAGE

"We are excited to celebrate the MetLife blimp program and the maiden voyage of the first MetLife airship," said Beth Hirschhorn, senior vice president, Global Brand & Marketing Services, MetLife. "The iconic MetLife blimps provide an exciting way for us to promote our company to diverse audiences as well as provide a unique perspective and experience for viewers from high above."

The celebratory blimp, Snoopy Three, was added to the MetLife airship fleet for three months beginning in August of 2007 – to handle an extended blimp schedule due to an increase in activity in celebration of the 20-year anniversary of the MetLife blimp program. Along with Snoopy One and Snoopy Two, Snoopy Three provided aerial coverage of NFL games and special events across the U.S. Snoopy Three is an A-150+ model blimp with a gondola that can accommodate the pilot plus nine passengers. The blimp is decaled with artwork in honor of the MetLife blimp program’s anniversary, which includes the slogan, "Celebrating 20 Years of the MetLife Blimp."

Snoopy One and Snoopy Two are both emblazoned with MetLife’s "if" brand advertising campaign artwork. The campaign speaks to the possibilities and uncertainties we face throughout our lives – in other words, the "ifs" in life – and speaks directly to MetLife’s ability to help consumers create their own ‘personal safety net’ with guarantees to secure their future. Snoopy One and Snoopy Two are A-60+ models with a passenger capacity of three passengers plus one pilot. The structure of the airships is designed to cover golf and other sporting events, which require them to be nimble and quiet.

Annually, the MetLife blimps provide aerial coverage of approximately 60 events for networks including NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, TGC and TNT. Most recently, the blimps have captured television shots of the US Open, the PGA Championship, the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and NFL games across the country. Photos taken from the MetLife blimps have appeared in print publications including New York Times, Sports Illustrated and Golf World. The airships have also been featured in shows such as Secrets of New York, HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel and in an ABC World News webcast feature.

The MetLife blimps have also supported a variety of MetLife events with special flyovers for clients and employees. Since September 2007, in celebration of the MetLife blimp program’s 20-year anniversary, more than 4,000 MetLife employees and clients have been given the opportunity to see the blimps up close and talk with the pilots.