Goodyear unveils new blimp, launches naming contest

Jennifer Karpus
Goodyear's new blimp is 246 feet long, making it the longest blimp in the company's history by more than 50 feet.

AKRON (March 14, 2014) — Goodyear unveiled its next generation Goodyear Blimp March 14 during a media day event at its Wingfoot Lake hangar in Suffield, Ohio.

“The completion of the new blimp marks the beginning of a new era for our airship program and reflects Goodyear's commitment to remaining at the forefront of aerial broadcast coverage and support,” said Paul Fitzhenry, senior vice president, global communications, Goodyear. “This airship will offer enhanced aerial television coverage capabilities, increased flight range to cover more events and an unparalleled passenger experience.”

Goodyear said the new airship is larger, faster and more maneuverable than the previous one and is scheduled to begin test flights over Northeast Ohio later this month before going into service in the summer.

Assembly of the new blimp began in March 2013 at its Wingfoot Lake hangar, where an international team of engineers and technicians from Goodyear and Germany's ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik worked side-by-side to complete the build project, according to Goodyear.

Jennifer Karpus

Media representatives tour Goodyear's new Goodyear Blimp during a launch event March 14.

Parts such as the tail fins and gondola were built in Germany and shipped to the U.S. for assembly. The balloon-like body of the airship — the envelope — is made of polyester with a film from DuPont called Tedlar, surrounding a semi-rigid internal structure, which differentiates this airship from previous Goodyear blimps.

The new helium-filled airship is 246 feet long, Goodyear said, which is more than 50 feet longer than its previous blimps. The blimp features a new paint scheme while retaining Goodyear's logo and traditional blue and yellow branding on a silver envelope.  The gondola can seat up to 12 passengers and features improved viewing through larger, wrap-around windows.

In tandem with the launch, the tire maker announced the launch of a nationwide contest to name the new blimp. The Akron-based tire manufacturer is inviting the public to participate in a Goodyear “Name the Blimp” contest.  Entrants who are at least 18-year-old in the U.S. and Washington D.C., can submit a name for the new blimp by visiting www.Goodyear.com/NametheBlimp or www.Facebook.com/GoodyearBlimp.

One name will be chosen from the entries, Goodyear said, and the contest winner will join the Goodyear Blimp for a day of airship activities. In addition, nine runner-up winners will receive a set of Goodyear tires. The contest opened March 14 and will close April 4.

Goodyear said this will be the second blimp in history to get its name from a consumer naming contest. The first contest was held in 2006 and featured more than 20,000 unique names.

The winning name, Spirit of Innovation, was given to the airship that now operates from Pompano Beach, Fla. 

Full contest rules, format and entry form can be found at www.Goodyear.com/NametheBlimp.

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