One of the desirable mission requirements I've wanted in an aircraft is the
ability to do serious sightseeing by allowing me to pause it in flight and
gaze at things. The problem with fixed-wing aircraft is that you can't stop
or sometimes even slow down enough to get a good long gander at things.
Only helicopters, airships, and (to a lesser extent because you can't
direct them much) balloons have the desired capability.

So about a year or so ago I began looking into designing and building a
homebuilt hot-air airship that required little or no ground crew to launch
and land. While doing research into airships, I came across the Skyacht
Aircraft company:

http://www.personalblimp.com/

Late last year I had an e-mail exchange with the Dan Nachbar, the inventor
of this particular design, and at that time he wished to maintain a low
profile. I see now he will be giving a presentation at Oshkosh, so I assume
he is no longer trying to keep such a low profile. Looks like he still has
some ways to go, but if my own (top secret! ;-) ) airship idea never get
off the ground I will definitely be looking into getting one of his
creations once it becomes generally available. (Other existing hot-air
airships seem to require too much ground support and because they rely on
pressurization, are a little too performance limited for my taste.)

So - has anyone reading these groups ever built or considered building a
homebuilt gas or thermal airship?