Certainly the Goodyear
Blimp is one of the most successful
advertising and public relations exercises
in corporate America. There are actually
several blimps in use. The West Coast
blimp is stationed in Carson, near the
intersections of the San Diego and Harbor
freeways.
Goodyear Blimp Airship
Operations is open to the public. Personal
viewing of airships which are lighter
than air is a memorable experience.
Blimp technology has not changed significantly
in over one hundred years and retains
all of its original magic.
A very steep angle of decline is utilized during landing and takeoff. Since lift is mostly provided by buoyancy in air rather than airfoils, in theory ascent and descent angles could be as steep as 90°. Muscle power and ropes are still used for blimp landings and take offs. No better system has been created in over one hundred years. Sandbags are often attached when moored to avoid the blimp rising. Specifications state that a blimp on the ground can be as light as minus 200 pounds.
All of the photographs in this gallery are of the same blimp, taken between 2000-2012. The blimp model is Type GZ-20A. The same blimp has been christened three times, each with a different tail number and name, as follows:
Years |
Tail Number |
Name |
1986-1992 |
N10A |
Columbia VIII |
1992-2002 |
N2A |
Eagle |
2002-2015 |
N10A |
Spirit of America |
Goodyear is now using semi-rigid dirigibles rather than a blimps at all locations. As of 2017, the West Coast Goodyear Semi-Rigid Dirigible is N3A Wingfoot Three model type LZ-N07-101.
Visit the
Goodyear
Blimp Airship Operations web site.
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