View source for Goodyear Blimp

{{Short description|Airship fleet used for promotional purposes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2017}}
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| width     = 305
| image1    = Wingfoot One (N1A).jpg
| caption1  = ''Wingfoot One'' is not actually a [[blimp]] (non-rigid airship), but rather a [[semi-rigid airship]].<ref name=NotBlimp>{{cite web|author=Ewinger, James|date=March 14, 2014|title=Goodyear rolls out newest blimp with the help of Zeppelin|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/03/embargoed_ship.html|work=[[The Plain Dealer]] via Cleveland.com|publisher=Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group|accessdate=July 21, 2014|quote=The three trusses mean that the new airship is semi-rigid. As such it is not a blimp, which is defined as non-rigid... But Goodyear's newest airship will still be called a blimp. 'The term ''Goodyear Blimp'' is so universally recognized that the company is proud to have it continue, regardless of any technical difference,' said Goodyear spokesman Doug Grassian.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317154400/http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/03/embargoed_ship.html|archivedate=March 17, 2014}}</ref>
| image2    = Goodyear Blimp - Spirit of Innovation.jpg
| caption2  = ''Spirit of Innovation'', Goodyear's last true blimp, was retired on March 14, 2017.<ref name="Innovation2017">{{cite web|author=Rogers, John|date=March 14, 2017|title=Goodyear deflates blimp, but keeps familiar form in flight|url=https://apnews.com/general-news-64fb157ab0cd488d9ca11dc65750f7b3|work=APNews.com|publisher=[[The Associated Press]]|accessdate=March 14, 2017|quote=Goodyear has let the helium out of the last of its fabled fleet of blimps, but the company's flight program will continue.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603054510/https://apnews.com/general-news-64fb157ab0cd488d9ca11dc65750f7b3|archivedate=June 3, 2025}}</ref>
}}

The '''Goodyear Blimp''' is any one of a fleet of commercial [[airship]]s (or dirigibles) operated by the [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company]], used mainly for [[advertising]] and capturing aerial views of live sporting events for [[television]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Blimp Schedule|url=https://www.goodyearblimp.com/news-and-events/schedule.html|access-date=July 4, 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704004455/https://www.goodyearblimp.com/news-and-events/schedule.html|archive-date= July 4, 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The term [[blimp]] itself is defined as a {{em|non-rigid airship}}&mdash;without any internal structure, the pressure of [[lifting gas]] within the airship envelope maintains the vessel's shape.

Goodyear built hundreds of airships throughout much of the 20th century, mostly for the [[United States Navy]]. Beginning with the ''Pilgrim'' in 1925, Goodyear also built blimps for its own commercial fleet. In 1987, a [[hostile takeover]] bid forced Goodyear to sell its subsidiary [[Goodyear Aerospace]], eventually ending the company’s construction of [[aerostat|lighter-than-air]] craft. The last blimp built by Goodyear, ''Spirit of Innovation'', was retired in 2017.<ref name=NotBlimp/><ref name="Innovation2017"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Warner, Stuart|date=November 27, 2011|title=25 years ago: Driving back the raider at the gates of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.|url=https://www.cleveland.com/business/2011/11/25_years_ago_driving_back_the.html|work=[[The Plain Dealer]] via Cleveland.com|publisher=Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group|accessdate=June 15, 2025|quote=It immediately sold its aerospace division and the airdock and laid off hundreds of employees to pay for the debts incurred from buying back Goldsmith's shares.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327123113/https://www.cleveland.com/business/2011/11/25_years_ago_driving_back_the.html|archivedate=March 27, 2019}}</ref>

Beginning in 2014, Goodyear replaced its three U.S. blimps with three new [[Semi-rigid airship|''semi-rigid'' airship]]s; built by the [[Luftschiffbau Zeppelin]] company, each have a rigid internal frame. Although technically incorrect, Goodyear continues to use "blimp" in reference to these new semi-rigid models. ''Wingfoot One'', the first such model in Goodyear's U.S. fleet, was [[Ceremonial ship launching|christened]] on August 23, 2014, at the [[Wingfoot Lake Airship Hangar]], near the company's world headquarters in [[Akron, Ohio]].<ref name=NotBlimp/><ref>{{cite web|author=Rogers, John; Hong, Jae C.|date=August 28, 2015|title=Goodyear retiring blimps, rolling out new cigar-shaped craft|url=https://apnews.com/general-news-4faa2568c53e4ee6ad3c14b893796c55|work=APNews.com|publisher=[[The Associated Press]]|accessdate=June 20, 2025|quote=It just won't be, well, technically, a blimp. ... 'It's a brand new design. It is a much larger airship. It's a semi-rigid dirigible,' Goodyear's Priscilla Tasker said of the new fleet of non-blimps replacing the company's three aging U.S. airships. In air-speak that means the new model has a fixed structure holding its big, gassy balloon in place. That's unlike a blimp, which goes flat when the helium is removed.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250614203501/https://apnews.com/general-news-4faa2568c53e4ee6ad3c14b893796c55|archivedate=June 14, 2025}}</ref>

==Airship fleet==
In May 2011, Goodyear announced it was replacing its fleet of non-rigid airships with three [[semi-rigid airship]]s built by [[Luftschiffbau Zeppelin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/04/goodyear_zeppelins_return_at_last/page2.html|title=Goodyear blimps to be replaced by German Zeppelins|work=theregister.co.uk|access-date= May 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dixon Murray|first=Teresa|title=Goodyear's 3 aging blimps to be replaced with bigger, faster airships|url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/05/goodyears_3_aging_blimps_to_be.html|access-date= October 4, 2013|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|date=May 2011}}</ref>

Goodyear's U.S. fleet consists of three semi-rigid airships (model [[LZ N07-101]]):<ref name=goodyeardata01>{{cite web
 |title       = Goodyear - Current Blimps
 |url         = http://www.goodyearblimp.com/behind-the-scenes/current-blimps.html
 |access-date  = August 25, 2017
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20170704003615/http://www.goodyearblimp.com/behind-the-scenes/current-blimps.html
 |archive-date = July 4, 2017
 |df          = mdy-all
}}</ref><ref name=abj20140823>{{cite news |first=Rich |last=Heldenfels |title=A new blimp is christened: Wingfoot One makes its formal debut |url=http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/a-new-blimp-is-christened-wingfoot-one-makes-its-formal-debut-1.516155 |work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |date= August 23, 2014 |access-date= August 24, 2014 }}</ref>

* ''Wingfoot One'' (N1A), based in [[Pompano Beach Airpark]] {{Airport codes|PPM|KPMP|PMP}} in [[Pompano Beach, Florida]]<ref>{{cite web|author=FAA|date=2014|title=N-Number Inquiry Results: N1A|url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N1A|work=FAA Registry – registry.faa.gov|publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]]|access-date=September 9, 2014|quote=N-Number: N1A... Status: Valid... Certificate Issue Date: 08/27/2014...|archive-date=June 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624093136/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N1A|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''Wingfoot Two'' (N2A), based in Goodyear Blimp Base Airport {{Airport codes|||64CL}} in [[Carson, California]]
* ''Wingfoot Three'' (N3A), based in Wingfoot Lake Airship Operations Balloonport {{Airport codes|||4OH6}} in [[Suffield Township, Portage County, Ohio|Suffield, Ohio]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.ohio.com/akron/business/goodyears-wingfoot-three-airship-debuts-on-first-day-of-summer | title=Goodyear's Wingfoot Three airship debuts on first day of summer | newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal }}</ref>

The new airships are {{convert|246|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long, {{convert|52|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} longer than Goodyear's old model, the [[GZ-20]]. The Zeppelin NT model is also slimmer, has a top speed of {{convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=off|sp=us}} (versus {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=off|sp=us}} for the blimp), and has a passenger gondola that seats 12 (compared to seven in the blimp). The gondola also contains a restroom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2015/02/18/goodyear-blimp-new-ship-nascar-sprint-cup-races-daytona-500/23637715/|title=With new model on the way, Goodyear blimp makes final flights|first=Mike|last=Hembree|date= February 18, 2015|work=USA Today Sports|access-date= May 22, 2015}}</ref> Both craft are outfitted with [[LED]] sign technology Goodyear calls "Eaglevision". This allows the aircraft to display bright, multi-colored, animated words and images.

Goodyear has also leased blimps operating in other parts of the world. These airships were built and operated by The Lightship Group of [[Orlando, Florida]]. In 2012, The Lightship Group was acquired (along with the [[American Blimp Corporation]]) by Van Wagner Communications LLC, and operated as the Van Wagner Airship Group until November 17, 2017, when it was purchased by Airsign Inc.<ref name="bizjournals.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2012/09/07/van-wagner-acquires-blimp-advertiser.html |title=Van Wagner buys The Lightship Group, American Blimp Corp. - New York Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name="lightship">{{cite web| url=http://www.lightships.com/history.php |title=Company History |publisher=Lightships |access-date=July 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125035640/http://www.lightships.com/history.php|archive-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Acquisition Positions AirSign as World Leader in the Airship Industry |url=https://www.aviationpros.com/tools-equipment/insurance-finance/aircraft/press-release/12383586/acquisition-positions-airsign-as-world-leader-in-the-airship-industry |website=Aviation Pros |date=November 28, 2017 |access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref> They currently operate an airship for Goodyear in China.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lightships :: Client Highlights >> GoodYear |url=http://www.airships.com/tlggoodyear.php |website=Airsign |publisher=www.airships.com |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref>

==Lifting agent==
The Goodyear blimps are inflated with [[helium]], a non-renewable resource. The helium is maintained under low [[pressure]], so small punctures do not pose serious consequences for the blimp. One inspection element of the blimps is to look into the envelope for pinpoints of light which are indicative of small holes.

Prior to the Zeppelin NT, the Goodyear blimps were non-rigid (meaning their shape is not maintained by a rigid internal structure) [[dirigible]]s (directable/steerable airships). Inside their exterior envelope, the blimps are fitted with air-filled [[ballonet]]s. As the blimp ascends or descends, the internal ballonets expand or contract to compensate for density changes and to maintain uniform pressure in the envelope. The latest Goodyear airship, the Zeppelin NT, is a departure from this convention, as it is a [[semi-rigid airship]] that makes use of a truss inside the envelope to provide some of its strength.

==Models==
{{multiple image
| align     = right 
| direction = vertical
| width     = 300
| image1= GoodyearBlimp1981.JPG
| caption1= ''Enterprise'' (N1A), a model [[GZ-20]] blimp, flies over the [[1981 Indianapolis 500]]. Goodyear replaced the fleet's old color scheme in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-12-14/news/9102210925_1_airships-blimp-goodyear|title=Goodyear Blimp Gets A Face-lift Ship's New Color Scheme Will Debut In February|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=May 22, 2015|archive-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112185657/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-12-14/news/9102210925_1_airships-blimp-goodyear|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| image2= Goodyear Aerospace GZ-20A Blimp, Goodyear AN0075922.jpg
| caption2= ''America'' (N3A) and ''Columbia'' (N4A) are [[Mooring mast|moored]] in preparation for the [[1984 Summer Olympics]].
| image3= Wingfoot Two (N2A).jpg
| caption3= ''Wingfoot Two'' (N2A), a model [[LZ N07-101]] semi-rigid airship, takes off to provide aerial coverage of the [[2016 NBA playoffs]].
}}

"GZ" stands for Goodyear–Zeppelin, stemming from the partnership Goodyear had with the German company when both were building airships together. However, these models came many years after this partnership had dissolved during the start of World War II. The GZ-1 was the [[USS Akron (ZRS-4)|USS ''Akron'' (ZRS-4)]], the U.S. Navy's fourth rigid airship used for several tests including as a flying "aircraft carrier".

*GZ-19/19A: Introduced in 1959 with the ''Mayflower'' (N4A) and discontinued in 1978 after the ''Mayflower'' (N38A) was destroyed by a tornado. The design for this class is similar to the [[L class blimp]] built by Goodyear for the U.S. Navy.
*[[Goodyear GZ-20|GZ-20/20A]]: This class was introduced in 1969, with ''America'' (N10A) and ''Columbia'' (N3A) being the first two. The  ''Europa'' (N2A) followed in 1972 and was based in Italy, the first Goodyear blimp based outside of the United States. These airships were larger than the GZ 19 blimps. Beginning in 2014, Goodyear began retiring the GZ-20 and replacing them with the [[Zeppelin NT]]. On February 23, 2014, ''Spirit of Goodyear'' was retired in Pompano Beach after the [[2014 Daytona 500]].<ref name="BlimpRetires">{{cite press release|title=Iconic Goodyear Blimp Retires after Daytona 500 |url=http://www.goodyear.com/cfmx/web/corporate/media/news/story.cfm?a_id=1000 |publisher=Goodyear |date=2014-02-24 |access-date=2014-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315160114/http://www.goodyear.com/cfmx/web/corporate/media/news/story.cfm?a_id=1000 |archive-date= March 15, 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On August 10, 2015, the California-based GZ-20, the ''Spirit of America'', was decommissioned. The ''Spirit of Innovation'', took over California operations in September 2015 until its retirement in March 2017 as the last remaining GZ-20. In fall of 2017, Wingfoot Two will be relocated to California.<ref name="SOARetires">{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writers(s); no by-line.--> |title=Goodyear Blimp "Spirit of America" Retires; Transition To High Tech Fleet Continues |url=http://www.goodyearblimp.com/news-and-events/soa-retires-7-26-15.html |publisher=Goodyear |date=2015-07-26 |access-date=2015-07-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807005019/http://www.goodyearblimp.com/news-and-events/soa-retires-7-26-15.html |archive-date=August 7, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
*[[Loral GZ-22|GZ-22]]: The only airship in this class was the ''[[Spirit of Akron]]'' (N4A). Originally built in 1987 to show the U.S. [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] that airships were still militarily viable, it was the most technically advanced airship Goodyear ever had in its public relations fleet, featuring [[fly-by-wire]] technology. However, ''Spirit of Akron'' was destroyed in a crash in 1999 and the company has not built one since, most likely because of the increase in manufacturing and operating expenses due to its advanced technology.
*[[Zeppelin NT|LZ N07-101]]: In May 2011, Goodyear announced that it would be replacing its aging fleet of GZ-20 [[blimps]] (non-rigid airships) with [[Zeppelin NT]] airships. Construction began in 2012 on the first of three new [[semi-rigid airship]]s; completed in March 2014, ''Wingfoot One'' was christened on August 23, 2014, by ''[[Good Morning America]]'' anchor [[Robin Roberts (newscaster)|Robin Roberts]].<ref name=abj20140823/>  ''Wingfoot Two'', the name of Goodyear's second semi-rigid airship, was unveiled in April 2016.<ref name="Wingfoot Two">{{cite web|author=Haidet, Ryan|date=April 8, 2016|title=Goodyear unveils Wingfoot Two airship in Akron|url=http://www.wkyc.com/mb/news/local/akron/goodyear-unveils-wingfoot-two-airship-in-akron/126413869|work=WKYC.com|publisher=[[WKYC]]|access-date=April 9, 2016}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The third finished the fleet in 2018. [[Shaesta Waiz]], the youngest woman to fly solo around the world, christened Wingfoot Three during an August 30 ceremony in Akron, with the traditional smashing of a bottle of champagne across the bow. "Wingfoot Three will serve as a beacon for me to continue my work inspiring and celebrating aviation with others," said Waiz. She joined a list of other famous Goodyear airship christeners, including Amelia Earhart and astronaut Sally Ride.<ref name=CNN>{{cite web |last1=Patterson |first1=Thom |title=Wingfoot Three Completes Goodyear's Fleet of New Zeppelins |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/goodyear-blimp-zeppelin-fleet/index.html|publisher=CNN |access-date=25 June 2020 |date=August 2018}}</ref>

===Historical navy classes===
*[[C-class blimp|C class blimp]] 1918–1919
*[[D class blimp]] 1920–1924
*[[F class blimp]]/Type FB 1918–1923
*[[Goodyear Type AD]] 1925–1931
*[[G class blimp]] 1935–19?
*[[H class blimp]] 1921–1923
*[[J class blimp]] 1922–1940
*[[K class blimp]] 1938–1959, WWII anti-submarine, post-war tests
**[[K-1 (airship)|K-1]] 1938–1940, pre-war experimental
*[[L class blimp]] 1930s–1945, WWII
*[[M class blimp]] 1944–1956
*[[N class blimp]] 1950s–1962
*[[Goodyear ZWG]] 1950s

==Dimensions==
According to the Goodyear website, the now retired GZ 19 and 19A blimps were {{convert|150|and|157|ft|meter|abbr=off|sp=us}} long respectively, and the GZ-20/20A blimps were {{convert|192|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long, {{convert|59.5|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} tall, and {{convert|50|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} wide. For comparison, the largest airships ever built, the [[Zeppelin]] company's ''[[Hindenburg (airship)|Hindenburg]]'', LZ-129, and the ''[[LZ 130 Graf Zeppelin|Graf Zeppelin II]]'', LZ-130, were both {{convert|804|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long and {{convert|135|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in diameter. That is, over four times as long and over twice as wide as the current Goodyear blimps. The largest blimp ever made by Goodyear was the [[U.S. Navy]]'s ZPG-3, at {{convert|403|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} in length.

==Names==
[[File:Goodyear Blimp, 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair.jpg|thumb|300px|''Puritan'' (NC7A) at the [[Century of Progress|1933 Chicago World's Fair]]]]
Since 1928, Goodyear had traditionally named its blimps after the U.S. winners of the [[America's Cup]] yacht race. This naming method is attributed to then-Goodyear CEO P. W. Litchfield,<ref name=Contest>{{cite press release|title=Goodyear Announces Winner of Nationwide Contest to Name Newest Blimp|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodyear-announces-winner-of-nationwide-contest-to-name-newest-blimp-56214337.html|publisher=PR Newswire Association LLC|access-date= June 17, 2011|date= June 21, 2006}}</ref> who viewed the airships as "aerial yachts". Although that practice deviated with the introduction of the ''Spirit of Akron'' in 1987, the tradition ended with the Florida-based ''Stars & Stripes'' in 2005.

In 2006, Goodyear began having the public participate in the naming of their airships; they dubbed this the "Name the Blimp" contest. ''Spirit of Innovation'' was the first airship to be named by the public.

'''The America's Cup winners' names:<ref name=Cup>{{cite web|title=America's Cup Winners|url=http://herreshoff.org/achof/cup_winner.html|publisher=Herreshoff Marine Museum|access-date=July 1, 2011|archive-date=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220032927/http://www.herreshoff.org/achof/cup_winner.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''
''[[Puritan (yacht)|Puritan]]'',
''[[Reliance (yacht)|Reliance]]'',
''[[Defender (1895 yacht)|Defender]]'',
''[[Volunteer (yacht)|Volunteer]]'', 
''[[Resolute (yacht)|Resolute]]'',
''[[Vigilant (yacht)|Vigilant]]'',
''[[Mayflower (yacht)|Mayflower]]'',
''[[Ranger (yacht)|Ranger]]'',
''[[Rainbow (yacht)|Rainbow]]'',
''[[Enterprise (yacht)|Enterprise]]'',
''[[Columbia (disambiguation)#ACYachts|Columbia]]'',<!-- NOTE: Intentional link to disambiguation page since three different yachts named Columbia won the America's Cup -->
''[[America (yacht)|America]]'',
''[[Stars & Stripes (yacht)|Stars & Stripes]]''.<ref name=Contest/><ref name=Goodyear>{{cite web|title=Goodyear Blimp {{!}} History & FAQ |url=http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/history/wingfootlake.cfm |publisher=The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |access-date=17 June 2011 |location=Akron, OH |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602154528/http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/history/wingfootlake.cfm |archive-date= June 2, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

'''Non-cup winners' names:<ref name=Cup/>'''
''Pilgrim'',<!--Pilgrim was not an America's Cup winner--><ref name=Records>{{cite web|title=The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Records|url=http://cdm15960.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15960coll3/id/86406|publisher=The University of Akron|access-date= December 27, 2016|location=Akron, OH|page=7|date= August 8, 2002}}</ref>
''Neponset'',<ref name=Records/>
''[[Spirit of Akron]]'',<ref name=Contest/>
''Spirit of Goodyear'',<ref name=Contest/>
''Eagle'',<ref name=Contest/>
''Spirit of America'',<ref name=Fleet>{{cite web|title=Goodyear Blimp {{!}} Our Fleet |url=http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/fleet/ |publisher=The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |access-date= June 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708071420/http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/fleet/ |archive-date= July 8, 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
''Spirit of Innovation'',<ref name = Fleet/>
''Wingfoot One'',<ref>{{cite press release|title=Wingfoot One Selected as Winning Name for New Goodyear Blimp |date= July 21, 2014 |publisher=Goodyear |url=http://www.goodyear.com/cfmx/web/corporate/media/news/story.cfm?a_id=1021 |access-date= August 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726054049/http://www.goodyear.com/cfmx/web/corporate/media/news/story.cfm?a_id=1021 |archive-date= July 26, 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
''Wingfoot Two''.<ref name="Wingfoot Two"/>

Foreign-based blimps have been operated by [[The Lightship Group]] since the 1990s:
''Europa'',<ref name=Contest/>
''Spirit of Europe'',<ref name=Lightship>{{cite web|title=Lightships :: Client Highlights >> GoodYear|url=http://lightships.com/tlggoodyear.php|publisher=The Lightship Group|access-date= June 18, 2011}}</ref>
''Spirit of the South Pacific'',<ref name=Lightship/>
''Spirit of the Americas'',<ref name=ReturnToEurope>{{cite press release|title=Return of Goodyear Airships to Europe is a success|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=51261|publisher=PR Newswire Europe Ltd.|access-date= June 18, 2011}}</ref>
''Spirit of Safety'',<ref name=SpiritofSafety/>
''Ventura'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Dirigível Goodyear |url=http://www.goodyear.com.br/blimp/index.html |publisher=Goodyear of Brasil |access-date= June 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724195927/http://www.goodyear.com.br/blimp/index.html |archive-date= July 24, 2011 }}</ref>
''Ling Hang Zhe&nbsp;(Navigator)''.<ref name = Fleet/>

==Passenger policy==
The only passengers that Goodyear will allow on the blimps are corporate guests of the company and members of the press; it has been Goodyear's long-standing policy that no public rides are offered. However, for over 50 years, it had to offer limited public rides at its [[Miami, Florida]], winter base on [[Watson Island]] as part of its land-lease deal with the city in order to operate from the island. That practice ended in 1979 when the base was moved to [[Opa-locka, Florida]].

During the period in which Goodyear supplied tires for [[IndyCar]], it was a tradition that the [[List of Indianapolis 500 pole-sitters|pole position]] winner at the [[Indianapolis 500]] would get a ride in the blimp in the days leading up to the race.<ref>"The Legends of the Brickyard" – 1985 Indianapolis 500 Highlight Film, ESPN</ref>

During the period in which Goodyear was a corporate sponsor of the [[Soap Box Derby|All American Soap Box Derby]],<ref>{{cite web |first1=Mel |last1=Poole |title=Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. becomes title sponsor of the International Soap Box Derby. |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/1999/03/15/No-Topic-Name/Goodyear-Tire-And-Rubber-Co-Becomes-Title-Sponsor-Of-The-International-Soap-Box-Derby.aspx |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en |date=15 March 1999}}</ref> the winners of the World Championship races held each July in Akron, Ohio were awarded a ride in the blimp.<ref>http://aasbd.com/webdev/aasbd73/f-prizes.html {{dead link|date=November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahrens |first1=Ronald |title=Pull of Gravity |url=https://www.dbusiness.com/from-the-magazine/pull-of-gravity/ |website=DBusiness Magazine |access-date=14 October 2023 |date=29 June 2023}}
</ref> Typically these rides were given on the day following the annual race, but if weather prohibited the blimp from flying on that day, the champions were given an award letter from Goodyear. This letter was basically a lifetime ticket for one blimp ride to be taken whenever arrangements could be made between all parties involved.

"''As part of the blimp’s 100-year anniversary celebration,'' {in 2025}, ''Goodyear is giving three U.S. residents a chance to join the exclusive club and win a ride.''"  <ref>{{cite |title=Goodyear Blimp at 100  |url=https://apnews.com/article/goodyear-blimp-nascar-anniversary-6a0a6063d3027b3a01c8786a0a82d075|website=AP News|access-date=13 February 2025 |date=14 February 2025}}</ref>

The European Goodyear blimp is operated by [[Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei]], a commercial passenger flight operator, and the Goodyear Zeppelin NT is regularly used for public flights around Germany outside of sport seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skylineatlas.com/goodyear-zeppelin-hovers-over-frankfurt/|title=Goodyear Zeppelin Hovers Over Frankfurt|website=Skyline Atlas|date=13 September 2020|accessdate=24 September 2021}}</ref>

==Night signs==
For years, Goodyear has fitted its blimps with a night sign. From neon tubes, to incandescent lamps to LEDs, these signs have helped the company advertise its products and also deliver public service messages from various organizations such as local governments.

* '''Neon-O-Gram:''' Originally called NeonGoodyear, was first fitted on ''Defender'' in the 1930s. Neon tubes on the sides of the blimp which usually spelled out 'Goodyear'.
* '''Trans-Lux''': Installed in 1947 on both sides of the ''Puritan''. Ten panels, each holding 182 incandescent lamps, with 18-foot letters.<ref name=Price1/>
* '''Skytacular:''' In the mid-1960s, the GZ-19 ''Mayflower'' (N4A) was fitted with over 3,000 incandescent lamps of red, yellow, blue and green on both sides that for the first time featured animation.<ref name="Price1" /> Usually moving stick figures, ticker messages or colorful patterns. A small [[gas turbine]] had to be attached to the blimp's car in order to power the Skytacular night sign.
* '''Super Skytacular:''' Same technology as Skytacular, but with more than 7,000 lamps on both sides.<ref name="Price1" /> Super Skytacular was fitted on the new longer GZ-20 blimps in 1969.
* '''EagleVision:''' Use a computer-driven system to create video displays with more than 80,000 LED lights.<ref name=Price1>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Mark J. |date=2014-03-10 |title=Local Akron history: Blimp innovation was a flash of brilliance |url=https://www.blimpinfo.com/airships/local-akron-history-blimp-innovation-was-a-flash-of-brilliance/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=The Lighter-Than-Air Society |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Accidents==
[[File:American Blimp Co A-60+ G-TLEL Goodyear (7334694938).jpg|thumb|300px|Via a subsidiary, [[American Blimp Corporation]] leased ''Spirit of Safety I'' to Goodyear in 2011; the blimp [[2011 Lightship Europe airship crash|crashed in Germany]] that same year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lendon, Brad|date=June 14, 2011|title=Blimp Pilot Dies Saving Passengers from Fiery Crash|url=https://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/14/blimp-pilot-dies-saving-passengers-from-fiery-crash/|work=This Just In via CNN.com|publisher=[[CNN|Cable News Network]]|accessdate=July 1, 2011|quote=The owners of the blimp, the Lightship Group...|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615151952/https://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/14/blimp-pilot-dies-saving-passengers-from-fiery-crash/|archivedate=June 15, 2011}}
*{{cite web|title=About American Blimp|url=https://www.americanblimp.com/abc.htm|work=AmericanBlimp.com|publisher=[[American Blimp Corporation]]|accessdate=June 15, 2011|quote=The Lightship Group (TLG), a wholly owned subsidiary of ABC, operates and sells Lightships for advertising and tourism around the world.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707131307/https://www.americanblimp.com/abc.htm|archivedate=July 7, 2011}}</ref>]]
* ''Wingfoot Air Express'', while transporting passengers from Chicago's [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]] to the [[White City Amusement Park]], [[Wingfoot Air Express Crash|caught fire then crashed through the skylight]] of the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank on July 21, 1919, killing one crewman, two passengers, and ten bank employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/disasters/dirigible_crash.html |title=Chicago History |work=chipublib.org |access-date= May 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213041636/http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/disasters/dirigible_crash.html |archive-date= December 13, 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* ''Columbia'', tail number N10A, was buzzed repeatedly by a radio-controlled model airplane when the blimp flew over a field used for R/C model flying on September 3, 1990; the R/C pilot then intentionally rammed his model airplane into the blimp, tearing a three-foot hole through the envelope.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-01-mn-1300-story.html|title=Man Arrested as Model Plane Buzzes, Punctures Goodyear Blimp|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 1990 |access-date= May 22, 2015}}</ref> The blimp made a "hard landing" at a nearby airport. The R/C pilot, John William Moyer, was identified by other flyers at the field and was arrested.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/12/08/man-will-stand-trial-in-goodyear-blimp-attack/|title=Man Will Stand Trial In Goodyear Blimp Attack|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621144019/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-12-08/news/9012081122_1_goodyear-blimp-moyer-stand-trial|archive-date=June 21, 2018|work=Orlando Sentinel|date=December 8, 1990 |url-status=live|access-date= May 22, 2015}}</ref>
* ''[[Spirit of Akron]]'', tail number N4A, crashed on October 28, 1999, in [[Suffield, Ohio]], when it suddenly entered an uncontrolled left turn and began descending. The pilot and technician on board received only minor injuries when the blimp struck trees. The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] report identified that improperly hardened metal splines on the control actuators sheared, causing loss of control. ''Spirit of Akron'' was a unique airship, the only Goodyear blimp of the [[Loral GZ-22|GZ-22]] class to be built.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19973&key=1 |title=IAD00LA002 |website=www.ntsb.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010111301/https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19973&key=1 |archive-date=October 10, 2006}}</ref>
* ''Stars and Stripes'', tail number N1A, crashed on June 16, 2005, in [[Coral Springs, Florida]], when it was caught in a strong [[thunderstorm]] that eventually pushed the aircraft into trees and [[Overhead power line|powerlines]]. There were no injuries in the crash, although the pilot and passenger were trapped for a number of hours until the powerlines could be de-energized.<ref>[[Wikinews:Goodyear blimp crashes in Florida]]</ref> The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] accident report claims the cause of the accident to be the pilot's "inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in an in-flight encounter with weather (thunderstorm outflow), and [[downdraft]]s..."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20050706X00943&key=1 |title=ATL05CA100 |website=www.ntsb.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011054605/https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20050706X00943&key=1 |archive-date=October 11, 2006}}</ref>
* ''Spirit of Safety I'' (built by American Blimp Corporation), registered as G-TLEL and owned and operated by Lightship Europe Limited, (but operating in Goodyear livery), caught fire while on landing approach to the [[Reichelsheim Airport]] and crashed on June 12, 2011, near [[Reichelsheim (Wetterau)|Reichelsheim]], [[Hesse|Hesse, Germany]]. The pilot, Michael Nerandzic, flew the airship low enough that passengers could jump to the ground, and all three did indeed leap to safety. Nerandzic then, while still able to maintain some control on the burning blimp, [[climb (aeronautics)|climbed]] away so that fire or wreckage would not hit the escapees; soon after, Nerandzic died in the blimp's fiery wreck.<ref name=SpiritofSafety>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/heroic-aussie-pilot-in-airship-tragedy/news-story/234a58069c8a283c389954cd38460b7f|title=Heroic Aussie pilot in airship tragedy|last=Klein|first=Nathan|date=June 14, 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=de |url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,768154,00.html |title=Pilot stirbt bei Luftschiff-Absturz |trans-title=Pilot dies in airship crash |work=Der Spiegel |date=12 June 2011 |access-date=June 13, 2011}}</ref>

==Popular culture==
In 1983, the city of [[Redondo Beach, California]], near the blimp base airport in [[Carson, California]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Fleet: America |url=http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/fleet/america.cfm |publisher=Goodyear |access-date= October 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220606/http://www.goodyearblimp.com/cfmx/web/blimp/fleet/america.cfm |archive-date= October 4, 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2022}} adopted resolution number 6252 recognizing the Goodyear Airship ''Columbia'' (since retired) as the "Official Bird of Redondo Beach".<ref>{{cite web|title=December 12, 1983 Meeting Minutes|url=http://laserweb.redondo.org/WebLink/0/doc/5470/Page2.aspx|publisher=Redondo Beach City Council|access-date= October 4, 2013}}</ref>

In [[Ice Cube]]'s 1993 hit [[It Was a Good Day]], Cube claims his good day ended with the lights of the Goodyear blimp reading "Ice Cube's a [[Pimp]]". In 2014 Goodyear flew the blimp in celebration of Ice Cube, with the message “Today Is A Good Day”, helping to raise $25,000 for a local charity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ice-cube-goodyear-blimp_n_4633673 |website=Huffington Post |access-date=3 April 2025 |title=Ice Cube And Goodyear Blimp Bring Lyrics To Life For A Good Cause}}</ref>

On a 2001 episode of [[That 70's Show]], Leo recalls seeing what he thought was a UFO at a football game, which displayed a message that he interpreted as a prediction of a "good year."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0720205/characters/nm0001045 |website=Internet Movie Database |access-date=14 July 2024 |title="That '70s Show" Who Wants It More? (TV Episode 2001) - IMDb }}</ref>

An airship heavily inspired by the Goodyear blimp appears in the 2013 video game ''[[ Grand Theft Auto V]]'',  where it is almost always seen above Los Santos, based on [[Los Angeles]]. Although named the  ''Atomic Blimp'' in-game, its design is that of a Zeppelin.

In January 2019, the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] inducted the Goodyear Blimp as its first-ever nonhuman inductee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2019/1/3/goodyear-blimp-named-honorary-member-of-college-football-hall-of-fame.aspx|title = Goodyear Blimp Named Honorary Member of College Football Hall of Fame| date=January 7, 2019 }}</ref>

The Aldrich Blimp in [[Thomas Harris]]'s 1975 novel [[Black Sunday (novel)|Black Sunday]] is based on the Goodyear Blimp flying over [[Super Bowl]]. It is the intended target of a terror plot. Goodyear allowed the use of the blimp in the [[Black Sunday (1977 film)|1977 film adaptation]], but set stipulations to protect its reputation.<ref name=NYT19770410>[https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/10/archives/frankenheimer-rides-a-blimp-to-a-big-fat-comeback-frankenheimer.html Frankenheimer Rides a Blimp To a Big, Fat Comeback] 1977/04/10 nytimes.com</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Goodyear Blimps|Goodyear Blimp}}
*{{Official|https://www.goodyearblimp.com}}
*{{URL|https://www.airships.net/goodyear-blimp|Airships.net: The Goodyear Blimp, Today and Yesterday}}

{{Goodyear Company|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1925]]
[[Category:Airships of the United States]]
[[Category:Goodyear aircraft]]