19 vintage Goodyear Blimp photos on its 100th anniversary
Tech for Life & Work
BY 3. Juni 2025 0 comments

19 vintage Goodyear Blimp photos on its 100th anniversary

On June 3, 1925, Goodyear launched its first civil airship. Over the next century, the blimp could be spotted floating over sporting events as an icon of advertising.

Before the branded blimps hit the skies in 1925, Goodyear built approximately 25 airships for the US Navy, starting in 1917. The hangar at the company’s Akron, Ohio-based Wingfoot Lake Airship Base was not yet complete when the Navy placed their order, so production of the first prototype, the B-1, occurred in an amusement park building in Chicago.

an unmarked blimp is move to a hanger as people hold ropes
Pilgrim, Goodyear’s first branded public relations blimp, returns to the Wingfoot Lake hangar following its official christening on July 17, 1925. Image: Goodyear

Notable moments in the airships’ history include:

  • In 1955, cameras onboard the airship provided the world’s first live aerial video for a national broadcast at the Rose Bowl game.
  • In 1989, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit near San Francisco while the company’s Columbia blimp was flying above the World Series. The blimp ended up sending images to first responders to show the damage from above.
  • A Goodyear blimp could be seen above the Super Bowl in 24 of the first 30 games.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Goodyear will fly its three operational airships above northeast Ohio June 3-5.

The Goodyear Blimp Mayflower flies over a NASCAR stock car event in 1963.
The Goodyear Blimp Mayflower flies over a NASCAR stock car event in 1963. Image: Goodyear
blimp flying by leaning tower of pisa
Goodyear’s first internationally-based blimp Europa first took the skies in 1972. Here it flies with the Tower of Pisa in Italy. Image: Goodyear
blimp flying by seattle's needle
The Goodyear Blimp Mayflower flies around the Space Needle at Seattle’s Century 21 Exposition in 1962. Image: Goodyear
Goodyear's first internationally-based blimp Europa first took the skies in 1972. Here it flies over the opening ceremony of the 1974 World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany.
Goodyear’s first internationally-based blimp Europa first took the skies in 1972. Here it flies over the opening ceremony of the 1974 World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany. Image: Goodyear
The Goodyear Blimp Volunteer lands at a California railroad station in 1929.
The Goodyear Blimp Volunteer lands at a California railroad station in 1929. Image: Goodyear
Goodyear Blimps Columbia and Mayflower fly over the Statue of Liberty
Goodyear Blimps Columbia and Mayflower fly over the Statue of Liberty in 1964. Both blimps spent the summer at the New York World’s Fair, providing rides to over 4,500 passengers in all. Image: Goodyear
Historical photo of Pilgrim blimp on ground
Pilgrim, Goodyear’s first branded public relations airship, took its first flight June 3, 1925. Image: Goodyear
The Goodyear Blimp Enterprise displays a newly designed electric sign
The Goodyear Blimp Enterprise displays a newly designed electric sign in 1949. Each of the 10 panels held 182 incandescent bulbs. Image: Goodyear NEDCC
blimp flying over Rome and the Colosseum in 1974.
Goodyear’s first internationally-based blimp Europa first took the skies in 1972. Here it flies over Rome and the Colosseum in 1974. Image: Goodyear
blimp above los angeles
Volunteer, the first Goodyear Blimp to be based on the West Coast, flies in Los Angeles in 1933. Image: Goodyear
blimp flyin over rome. a nun looks on
Goodyear’s first internationally-based blimp Europa first took the skies in 1972. Here it flies over Rome, Italy. Image: Goodyear
sally ride stands at podium with blimp behind her
Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, christens the Spirit of Goodyear on March 15, 2000. This year the Goodyear Blimp celebrates its 100th anniversary. Image: Goodyear
In the largest gathering of Goodyear Blimps since the 1930s, five Goodyear Blimps, including two newly built and one headed into retirement, fly above Akron, Ohio on September 10, 1969.
In the largest gathering of Goodyear Blimps since the 1930s, five Goodyear Blimps, including two newly built and one headed into retirement, fly above Akron, Ohio on September 10, 1969. Image: Goodyear
Here two Goodyear Blimps fly over nearby Houston in celebration of the new home.
In addition to introducing a new model of blimp in 1969, Goodyear also opened a new base in Spring, Texas. Here two Goodyear Blimps fly over nearby Houston in celebration of the new home. Image: Goodyear
view of stadium from blimp
The Goodyear Blimp Mayflower flies over Super Bowl V at the Orange Bowl. The Goodyear Blimp was present at 27 of the first 35 Super Bowls. Image: Goodyear
large camera pointing out of blimp
On January 1, 1955, Goodyear provided the world with the first live aerial coverage of a nationally televised event. This photo, from 1975, demonstrates the continued development of the aerial TV equipment. Image: Goodyear
us navy branded blimp and its crew
As the only airship on the west coast of the United States at the time, the Goodyear Blimp Resolute was officially drafted – crew and all – into the Navy on March 10, 1942. Image: Goodyear

 

More deals, reviews, and buying guides

 

Related posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *