Goodyear Blimp

Gracing the skies at the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger is the GOODYEAR BLIMP!

We are honored to have the Goodyear Blimp at the air show this summer, as they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp program this year!

History of the Goodyear Blimp Program

In 1910, Goodyear created its Aeronautics Department, which led to the first balloon in 1912. The Wingfoot Hangar, located here in Ohio, was built in 1917 and used to produce aircraft for the U.S. Navy and to train pilots. In 1919, Goodyear introduced its first non-commissioned airship, including Wingfoot Air Express and Pony Blimps. Then in 1925, they introduced the first helium-filled non-rigid airship, which marked the start of the Goodyear Blimp program.

During WWII, Goodyear began a pilot training program at Wingfoot Lake to help support the U.S. Navy. After the attack in Pearl Harbor, demand surged, and Goodyear delivered 154 blimps by 1944. Blimps became essential for protecting ships to protect them from enemy submarines.

After the war, Goodyear reintroduced a fleet of five blimps and by 1968, the fleet expanded to add a second base in Carson, CA. In the 1970s, they continued to expand and added new bases in Texas, England and Florida. During this time, they also launched several new models of Blimps.

In 2011, they introduced the New Technology model that was designed with Zeppelin, which marked a shift to semi-rigid airships. Wingfoot One was the first model launched in 2014, and it was followed by Wingfoot Two in 2016 and Wingfoot Three in 2018.

Over the years, Goodyear Blimps have appeared at events such as the Rosebowl, the World Series, the LA Olympics and the first Superbowl. This year they are celebrating their 100th anniversary and are adding even more iconic events to their list.

The Blimp making an appearance at the show is Wingfoot One which is located at Wingfoot Lake Airship Base, near Akron.

Learn More: https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/blimp.html