Goodyear Blimp Pilot Wing (Europa) Type III

This badge was used in Europe when there was a European operation. Usage was circa 1974 near Frankfurt, Germany.

Akron, OH; Carson, CA and Pompano Beach, FL 1925-Current

The Goodyear Blimp is any one of a fleet of Blimps operated by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for advertising purposes and for use as a television camera platform for aerial views of sporting events. Goodyear began producing airship envelopes in 1911 and introduced its own blimp, The Pilgrim, in 1925. Today there are three blimps in the fleet in the USA: Spirit of Goodyear, based in Suffield Township, Ohio near Akron; Spirit of America, based in Carson, California and the Spirit of Innovation, based in Pompano Beach, Florida All three craft are outfitted with LED sign technology Goodyear calls "Eaglevision." This allows the aircraft to display bright, multi-colored, animated words and images. Goodyear also has blimps operating in other parts of the world. In May 2011 Goodyear announced it will be replacing its fleet of blimps with three semi-rigid airships built by Zeppelin NT.