Goodyear Gondola for EAA Aviation Museum

Earlier this week, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. donated its last remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Aviation Museum as part of a new children’s exhibit.

The gondola frame is from Goodyear’s GZ-20 model era of blimps that spanned nearly 40 years. In that time period, as one blimp retired, its gondola was often refurbished for a new blimp. The gondola frame being donated to the EAA museum was previously used on the Europa, Goodyear’s blimp that flew throughout Europe in the 1980s, and on the Florida-based Stars and Stripes in the early 2000s. This tradition ended in 2011 when Goodyear began the transition to the NT (new technology) semi-rigid airship platform that remains in place for its fleet of airships today.

As part of this year’s celebration of the Goodyear blimp’s 100th anniversary, this gesture marks another way for Goodyear to preserve the history of its airship program and carry the legacy of the Goodyear blimp forward for future generations.

“As we celebrate our blimp program’s 100th anniversary, there’s no better way to honor its legacy than by inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts,” said Michael “Doc” Dougherty, Goodyear’s chief pilot and operations manager. “We hope this exhibit sparks curiosity and dreams of flight on aircraft of all kinds in countless children into the future.”

“Goodyear’s blimp flying has been an iconic part of aviation for a century, so this donation is a great fit as part of our museum’s mission to tell the story of flight,” said Chris Henry, EAA Aviation Museum manager. “Just as Goodyear blimps have brought fascination with flight, this donation will be part of a future exhibit that inspires those with aviation dreams.”