Akron, Ohio – On opening day of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025, July 21, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company donated its last-remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Museum as part of a new children’s exhibit. The 72nd annual EAA fly-in convention was held July 21-27 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The gondola frame is from Goodyear’s GZ20 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 donated to the EAA Museum was previously used on “Europa,” Goodyear’s blimp that flew throughout Europe in the 1980s, and on the Florida-based blimp “Stars and Stripes” in the early 2000s. This tradition ended in 2011 when Goodyear began the transition to the New Technology (NT) semi-rigid airship platform that remains in place for its fleet of airships flown today.
As part of this year’s celebration of the Goodyear Blimp’s 100th anniversary, this gesture marked 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 Dougherty, Goodyear’s Chief Pilot.
“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.”
Along with the gondola donation, Goodyear is also offering fans the unique chance to take home a piece of the Goodyear Blimp. The “Spirit of Goodyear” keepsake item includes a genuine piece of envelope that flew with the “Spirit of Goodyear” across North America from 2000 to 2014, wrapped in a commemorative 100th anniversary box. Christened by NASA astronaut and the first American woman in space, Sally Ride, in March of 2000, the “Spirit of Goodyear” went on to become one of Goodyear’s most decorated blimps. It holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuously operated airship, and it was the first blimp to provide aerial TV coverage of a sporting event in high definition. When the “Spirit of Goodyear” retired in 2014, Goodyear donated its gondola to the Crawford Aviation Museum in Cleveland, but retained its envelope, which is now a piece of this limited-edition keepsake item.
The “Spirit of Goodyear” keepsake item is now available for purchase while supplies last by visiting the Goodyear Fan Store: Goodyear | Blimp Keepsake Box. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the EAA Museum for the children’s museum project.
Goodyear is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 68,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 20 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.