AtDDtA1: Darby Suckling

[Ya Sam]

Although it is possible for human beings to be mascots, I think it is quite 
ironic that instead of Pugnax, who, as an animal, is a more likely 
candidate, Darby Suckling is chosen for this position. (Yeah, I get all the 
pig connotations, but still).

Check out "Cameron", the airship mascot:

http://www.nationalballoonmuseum.com/hot_air_airship.htm

It was not an uncommon thing to have live animals as mascots on airships. 
E.g.:

"1919 ..... the FIRST airship to cross the Atlantic, the British R34, 
arrived in New York from East Fortune in Scotland after 108 hours in the 
air. Despite electrical storms, the silver cigar-shaped craft landed safely 
with its crew of 30, a stowaway, and Wopsie, the airship's mascot cat. The 
stowaway was a 19 year old airman William Ballantyne. He was upset at being 
dropped from the crew and had hidden between gas bags in the hold until the 
fumes made him sick. Despite threats he was not court-martialled and turned 
up again, uninvited, when a commemorative statue of the airship was unveiled 
later at London airport "

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/m.gratton/July/July%206th.htm

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