Editor's note: This is a first person account of WFAA MoJo Aaron Chimbel's ride in the MetLife blimp

I really didn't quite know what to expect. Blimp rides are not your usual way to travel. For the 13 crewmembers for the MetLife Snoopy Two blimp it's an everyday journey that takes them across the country.

I arrived at Arlington Municipal Airport shortly before 11 a.m. Monday, MetLife's 140th anniversary. There I met Allan Judd, the chief pilot. He led me to a side entrance and to an open field where the blimp was landing. He told me to stay back as he helped dock Snoopy Two.

He gave me a quick rundown, comparing a blimp to a ship being guided by a tug boat. It has to be carefully guided. The wind, like the water, pushes the blimp back and forth. Only two 80 horse power engines control the 4,400-pound blimp.

Then comes the dance to get in. The crew carefully tries to steady the blip and pull up a ladder to the small gondola, which only has room for a pilot and three passengers.

I get in and go to the front seat. Next to me is Mandy Scott, who tells me she has been flying the blimp since June. Then she reassures me she was a commercial airplane pilot before, as well as an Air Force veteran.

Her seat looks like a wheelchair. Two large wheels on each side and two foot pedals she uses to move the blimp up and down, left to right.

Then we prepare to take off. Wind constantly pushes the blimp from side to side. Scott also has to coordinate with the airport control tower and 10 crewmembers on the ground.

Finally we begin our slow ascent to 1,500 feet. We begin to head east to Downtown Dallas.

The ride is slow. The average speed is about 45 miles an hour, much slower than a helicopter or airplane and much more at the mercy of the wind.

We pass over Grand Prairie and Oak Cliff before circling downtown. It's a new perspective on the majestic skyline.

The ride itself is bumpy; Scott has to consistently move the wheels up and down to keep us steady. She says it's much more difficult than holding a plane steady.

After a downtown, we head back to Arlington to get a glimpse of Six Flags, Rangers Ballpark and the future Cowboys stadium.

Scott says she is one of only about 60 blimp pilots in the world, a smaller group than people who have been to space. But it's a hard life, she explains. The crew is on the road 365 days a year. Scott sold her house and car when she was hired about a year ago. Turnover is high. Still she says she loves it and will keep flying until it's not fun anymore.

After cruising right over the new stadium, we head back to Arlington Municipal. It's a tricky landing because we have to approach from the west and drop right over hangers and a tower. Just before 1 p.m. we touch down safely and I'm only a bit queasy.