Anyone who has always wanted to take a rapid corona test under or next to an airship will now get their money's worth in the WDL hangar at Essen-Mühlheim Airport. In cooperation with the German Red Cross and Weles Medical Products, the Blimp operator has set up a drive-in test street in its hangar.

The WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft is a long-established company that produces so-called blimps as well as offers advertising and tours with them. This type of airship is not to be confused with the rigid airships of the Zeppelin era and also not with the semi-rigid Zeppelin NT. The recently in German Airways renamed WDL Aviation was once a sister company, but was sold to Zeitfracht a few years ago. The airships remained with the original owners.

It is also exciting that WDL has not offered hangar tours for some time and this at the Home justified with the current corona situation. However, tests do not seem to be a problem, which is why antigen tests are carried out directly next to and under parked airships using the drive-in procedure.

Corona tests in an airship hangar are probably only available at WDL at Essen-Mühlheim Airport, where, apart from general aviation, the airships and training of pilots, there is not much going on. It is not known whether Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, which is active in both production and operation of the Zeppelin NT through group subsidiaries, will follow suit and counter with corona tests under the Zeppelin NT. But it is very unlikely.

Two different tests are offered in the WDL hangar at Essen-Mühlheim airfield: The "classic" rapid antigen test, in which a nasopharynx smear is taken, at a price of 29,99 euros. The new saliva antigen test (“spit test”) can be done for five euros more. Those responsible are planning that PCR tests will also be offered shortly. With these, however, the result is not fixed within 15 minutes. More information and the option to book an appointment directly on the homepage, which is operated by WDL and DRK.