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How many Goodyear blimps are there?
There are three: the Spirit of Goodyear, based in Akron, Ohio; the Spirit of Innovation based in Pompano Beach, Florida; and the Spirit of America based near Los Angeles.
Goodyear has operated as many as eight at a time since its first commercial ship, the Pilgrim, flew in 1925.
Are there any other airships in the world?
There are several other blimps in the world. Most are smaller than the Goodyear blimps and are active in Europe and North America.
Does Goodyear build its own blimps?
Yes, and No. The blimps in the United States are manufactured with help from Lockheed Martin.
The envelopes and other components are fabricated by Goodyear & Lockheed Martin, and final erection takes place at the airship hangar in Akron, Ohio. It takes twenty-five people twelve weeks to put everything together. Each ship has to be rebuilt with a new envelope every ten to fifteen years. The gondolas, many of which date back to World War II and before, are refurbished and put back in the air.
How do the other crewmen get their jobs?
Experienced blimp people are hard to find. In the case of mechanics, since the blimps use regular light plane engines and turbines, Goodyear hires qualified airframe and powerplant mechanics. The crew of the Goodyear Blimps consist of professional mechanics, electrical and electronics technicians and specialized crewmen that all have a variety of skills. Because the blimps can spend between six and eight months a year on the road a love of travel is a must.
What does Goodyear get in return for such an investment in the blimps?
The end result is corporate-name recognition and goodwill. Independent research has demonstrated that people are excited by seeing the blimp and are able to remember exactly when and where they saw it. Over sixty million Americans get a first-hand look at the three U.S. blimps every year, and millions more see the airships in South America and throughout the world via global network connections. The Goodyear blimps may be the best-known corporation symbol in the United States.
Will Goodyear build big airships again?
Goodyear has no plans in the immediate future to expand its airship operations to include
experiments with larger airships.
How does the television camera in the blimp work?
Goodyear has its own specially designed TV equipment for use in the blimps. The equipment is kept with the crew for installation just prior to a given event. The camera is a small Wescam, mounted in a vibration-free gimbal mount. The lens is an enormous Fujinon 44:1 zoom. The camera's image is transmitted to the ground by microwave, where a microwave dish antenna and receiver pick it up and feed it to the network. The blimp signal can be put on the air live or taped for replay. Goodyear pilots fly the blimp and the company supplies the TV equipment and technicians to the networks.
What events do the blimps cover for TV?
It varies from year to year, but the list is impressive. Some of the more well-known events it has given audiences air views of include The World Cup, The Olympics, auto racing, soccer, golf, American football and baseball, and horseracing. The Indianapolis 500, the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and World Series games, the Rose Bowl and parade, the America's Cup yacht races; the U.S. Open and PGA for Golf.
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