Celebrating a century of sky-high influence, the legendary Goodyear blimp makes a pitstop at EAA AirVenture.
The Goodyear Blimp, a symbol of innovation and Americana, has been gracing the skies since its first flight in 1925. Over the decades, this iconic airship has undergone significant transformations, from its early beginnings as a helium-filled advertising vessel to the technologically advanced aircraft it is today.
In the early 1900s, Goodyear began manufacturing airships and balloons, with the first advertising blimp, the Pilgrim, taking to the skies in 1925. Prior to this, Goodyear had been involved in airship envelope creation since 1911 and even produced airships for the U.S. military during World War I.
The Goodyear-Zeppelin partnership, formed in 1924, marked a period of collaboration with Germany's leading airship maker. By 1929, Goodyear had built the world’s largest airship dock in Akron, showcasing the strategic importance of airships to the company's operations.
The Goodyear-Zeppelin partnership ended around World War II, but the company continued to innovate, producing military airships and synthetic rubber tires. The GZ20 model, which spanned nearly 40 years from the 1960s until the early 2000s, marked a period of stability in blimp design and operation.
Today, the current Goodyear blimps, including the Spirit of Goodyear, hold records such as the Guinness World Record for longest continuously operated airship. In 2025, Goodyear showcased two blimps at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event — one with a vintage-inspired design and another with an LED sign, reflecting both heritage and modern technology integration.
Goodyear continues to engage the public with memorabilia from its blimps, contributing to aviation museums. The company also donates passenger flight certificates to charities across the U.S. for fundraisers.
During this year's EAA AirVenture Oshkosh event, the Goodyear blimp could be seen soaring over the skies, attracting the attention of aviation enthusiasts like Taylor Matz of Minnesota, who has been attending the event for 28 years. Chris Finlayson, another attendee, found it cool to see the Goodyear blimps up close and in person during the 100th anniversary celebration.
The Goodyear blimp, with its 6-seater cabin and semi-rigid structure powered by three engines, continues to be a marvel of engineering and a beloved symbol of American ingenuity. From its first flight in 1925 to the present day, the Goodyear Blimp's history reflects a progression through experimental airships, wartime utility, mid-century model standardization, and recent modernizations supporting public engagement and aviation heritage.
In the realm of technological advancements, Goodyear's involvement in the aerospace industry expanded beyond airship envelopes, as they formed a partnership with Zeppelin in 1924 to manufacture airships. Fast forward to the 21st century, Goodyear's blimps, like the Spirit of Goodyear, have integrated modern technology, showcasing records such as the Guinness World Record for longest continually operated airship.
