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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:
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. |
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