The blimp is back

The Hood Blimp, shortly after it crashed into the woods last year.

The Hood Blimp, repaired since a September crash-landing on the North Shore, has been flying over Boston this week ahead of its first public events in New England in 10 months.

The blimp, one of the area's most recognizable advertising icons, will be flying over the Tall Ships celebrations in Newport, R.I., this weekend, over the Red Sox game at Fenway on Monday, over the Fourth of July festivities at the Esplanade on Wednesday, and over Maine and New Hampshire coastal areas next week.

That's according to Lynne Bohan, vice president of public relations for Lynnfield-based H.P. Hood LLC.

After the crash-landing in a remote wooded area of Manchester-by-the-Sea on Sept. 26, 2006, the blimp's envelope -- or balloon -- was deflated, packed up and driven to North Carolina to repair a tear. "It was just several inches long,'' Bohan said of the tear. No one was hurt in the crash, she said.

Last week the blimp flew from Orlando, Fla. to Rochester, N.Y., where it floated above the Wegman's LPGA golf tournament there, Bohan said.

It is back at its home hanger in the Beverly Airport ahead of the round of appearances beginning Friday.
(By David Beard, Globe staff)