Both Brian and Alex grew up dreaming of airplanes and rockets. Brian spent summers in upstate New York, near an aerospace museum – Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Watching dogfights between the museum’s collection of WWI aircraft, he became hooked on the aviation of that era, as well as of his. A child of the moon-landing generation, Brian also built an extensive collection of model rockets.

Meanwhile across the pond in England, Alex grew up dreaming of becoming an astronaut. Genetics weren’t on her side, however, and she learned she was, at the time, too short to take the first step toward her dream, training to be a commercial pilot. Space wasn’t her only interest as the Cardington Airship Hangars in Bedford, England were nearby. These huge airship sheds inspired her fascination with the oversized aircraft and airship history, particularly the trans-global flights of the Graf Zeppelin.

As their careers progressed, aviation remained a common element. Brian's first entrepreneurial venture was with a company dedicated to writing flight planning software. Alex translated her degree in Astrophysics into a career in space related visitor centers -- first at the England's National Space Center, and later at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California.

When they first met, Brian and Alex discovered they had shared interests and aspirations. Around that time, Brian had an experience that would change the future for both of them.

True Entrepreneurial Spirit is always hungry and in July 2006 Brian Hall’s appetite for his next business challenge was tempted. He had been operating Mark/Space, a successful company offering software to move data between mobile phones and computers for 14 years when a business trip to Cologne, Germany, presented him with the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream, to fly on a Zeppelin!

One ride aboard the Zeppelin NT was all it took – Brian was hooked. Realizing that there was no experience like this, and no airship technology like this in the U.S., Brian immediately embarked on his next business venture. He returned home to the San Francisco Bay Area raving about the experience and determined to bring the Zeppelin experience to California. His passion persuaded his then fiancée Alex to his cause and the two began working on a plan to bring a Zeppelin airship to the United States for the first time since 1937.

The Zeppelin's manufacturer, Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik (ZLT) and their operating company DZR, had been offering Zeppelin passenger rides successfully in Germany since 2001, with sold-out flights for all eight months of favorable flight weather available each year. Brian sent an e-mail to the company, with an initial business plan to bring a Zeppelin NT to the Bay Area. Two months later, in September, 2006, he returned to Germany to convince ZLT that the American marketplace, San Francisco resident and tourist base, and more favorable flying weather in the Bay Area would make for a successful Zeppelin flight operation. They agreed. A deposit was made for the next Zeppelin NT pending production, the fourth Zeppelin NT to be constructed.

Brian and Alex married in February 2007. Their first major purchase as a husband and wife? A Zeppelin! In March 2007 the couple signed an option agreement for a Zeppelin NT, officially launching Airship Ventures. A true test of faith, Alex began her full-time commitment at the company in March, but did not take her first flight aboard a Zeppelin NT until that August in Germany, bringing along her father as a special birthday gift to him. The experience exceeded her expectations, and she was instantly convinced of her husband's initial vision for the company.

Alex's first order of business was to secure a base for the Zeppelin in the Bay Area. A rather large airship needed a large home, specifically an airship hangar. Fortunately, three of the remaining 13 airship hangars in the U.S. were located close to home, Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif. Decommissioned as a Naval airfield in 1994, and now operated by NASA, Alex was able to leverage her contacts from her previous position at Chabot Space and Science Center to meet the Center Director, who agreed that it was an obvious partnership, a wonderful historic reuse and exactly the kind of project he'd like to see at Ames. It then took almost a year to build local community support and navigate red tape to make the initial agreement happen.

The company then had other areas to navigate, the least of which was funding! Because of the unique venture, Brian and Alex realized they would have to find private investors who were just as passionate about the future of airships as they were. And they found them. Following Brian and Alex's initial personal investments, Airship Venture’s first angel investor, noted emerging digital technology journalist Esther Dyson, signed on in December, 2007. By March 2008 several additional six- and seven-figure investors interested in making two returns – a dividend and the bragging rights of being involved with America's first Zeppelin – had signed on. Of course, these investments funded operations, not a new Zeppelin airship! As a brand new company seeking an international deal on a brand-new aircraft into the U.S. market, traditional financing channels were out-the-window. Ever undaunted, Airship Ventures worked with ZLT to create a customized lease finance deal to bring Zeppelin no. four to America.

In the midst of funding, in February, 2008, Airship Ventures moved into its first official offices, Building 156 at Moffett Field. By April, the company was filling the space with an international team of seasoned professionals from the airship, aviation, travel and hospitality fields.

As things were moving forward "stateside," construction of the Zeppelin was progressing in Germany. As the airship was being built, ZLT was building a partnership with Airship Ventures on many levels beyond simply manufacturing and financing. The two companies worked closely together on operations training and to get the Zeppelin certified for flying in the USA, where airship laws were written for advertising blimps, not passenger-carrying Zeppelins!

On May 21, 2008, the result of this teamwork was celebrated when Airship Venture's Zeppelin NT emerged from Zeppelin's hangar for its maiden flight – co-launched with pride by the ZLT and Airship Ventures teams, along with residents of the airship’s hometown of Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Already demonstrating All-American spirit, the Zeppelin departed Friedrichshafen July 4, 2008, and spent her first summer touring Europe before crossing the Atlantic onboard the deck of a container ship. The Zeppelin arrived in Beaumont, Texas, sailing from there to her home base at Moffett Field. The airship’s first passenger tours in California were in late October 2008, with her formal dedication and naming ceremony the following month. On November 21, 2008, Zeppelin no. four was officially named Eureka at a ceremony that coincided with the 75th Anniversary of Moffett Field.

Today, Brian and Alex’s vision is a reality and Airship Ventures is the only commercial passenger airship operation in the United States. Calling historic Hangar Two at Moffett Field home, Eureka is the only Zeppelin in the Americas and one of only three operating anywhere in the world. The Zeppelin’s trademark smooth ride and sweeping panoramas delight passengers who go “flightseeing” on tours above San Francisco Bay, Silicon Valley, San Diego, Los Angeles and other cities around the United States. And, a lucky few seize the opportunity to be part of the most exclusive Zeppelin experiences, day-long California Airship Cruises along the Pacific coastline and the world-exclusive Two-Day Pilot Experience that puts qualified pilots in the cockpit.

Eureka’s steadiness and great views take her work beyond flightseeing, however. These flight characteristics have also proven the airship to be an ideal platform for scientific research and special missions. Government, environmental and research organizations have used Eureka to advance their work; these organizations include NASA, SETI, Woods Hole Institute, NOAA and the California Emergency Management Agency. And, of course, Eureka also fulfills a traditionally recognized airship role, TV camera platform. Eureka has graced the sky and broadcast aerials of star-studded and athletic events such as the Golden Globes, PGA Golf and the Rose Bowl.

Airship Ventures' future business plans include the expansion of its fleet of airships to support East Coast Operations and expanded support of air shows, special events and scientific research missions. The company also intends to further develop its flight training and education capacities, including the establishment of a professional airship flight school, as well as the expand into research and development.