Goodyear Blimp Marks 100 Years with AirVenture 2025 Showcase

The Goodyear Blimp is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century since its first flight near Akron, Ohio, on June 3, 1925. To honor the milestone, Goodyear hosted a special event at its historic Wingfoot Lake hangar, featuring brand mascots and a tribute to the blimp’s enduring legacy in aviation and popular culture.

As part of the celebration, Goodyear announced that two of its airships will appear at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2025. This will be the first time in over 50 years of attendance that two Goodyear airships participate in the iconic aviation gathering. One blimp will remain near the EAA Museum when not performing in afternoon and evening airshows.

“There is no aviation event more blimp-worthy than EAA AirVenture Oshkosh,” said Rick Larsen, EAA vice president. Goodyear chief pilot Michael Dougherty added that Oshkosh is the perfect venue to celebrate the company’s 100-year milestone with global aviation enthusiasts.

Goodyear’s first blimp, Pilgrim, launched in 1925, introducing the non-rigid helium-filled airship era. During World War II, Goodyear built over 150 blimps for the U.S. Navy, escorting more than 89,000 vessels without a single submarine loss.

Today, Goodyear operates four modern Zeppelin NT airships based in Ohio, California, Florida, and Germany. Though technically semi-rigid, they still carry the iconic “blimp” name. The fleet supports sports broadcasting, brand promotions, and charity efforts, including raising over $500,000 in 2023 through auctioned blimp ride certificates. In 2019, the Goodyear Blimp became the first non-athlete inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ainonline.com