AN ICON IS BACK

The History of the Blimp

1917

The very first Goodyear Blimp prototype - the B1 - takes to the skies over Chicago.

1955

Goodyear Blimps first used as aerial platforms to provide a live television picture of a nationally televised program

1967

First Super Bowl played in Los Angeles. Goodyear Blimp Columbia provides live TV coverage.

1973

Europa makes its debut at Le Mans.

1989

A massive earthquake hits San Francisco. The Columbia - filming the third game of baseball's World Series - offers crucial support to the relief effort.

1930

The Goodyear Blimp Defender became the first airship in the world to carry a lighted sign. 

1965

The Goodyear Blimp Mayflower makes a guest appearance in the Beatles film Help!

1972

The Goodyear Blimp fleet goes international with the Europa, first flown from Cardington Airfield, UK and later based in Italy.

1984

For the first time, two blimps work in tandem covering the same event - the Los Angeles Olympics.

2020

The Goodyear Blimp returned to the skies of Europe and was present in the legendary Le Mans 24 hour race.

Take the Virtual Tour

Click the hotspots to explore

The Blimp is 75m long - around the same as two and a half blue whales.
The Blimp has a volume of 8,425 cubic metres. If you wanted to fill it with soda, you’d need 25,530,303 cans.
The Blimp carries two pilots and up to 14 passengers.
The Blimp may be big but it’s so simple to take off and land that it requires just three ground crew.
The Blimp has a maximum speed of 125km/h (78mph) - around the same as the fastest downhill skiers.
The Blimp's ideal cruising height is 300m - that's slightly below the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Our top 5 facts
about the blimp

  1. The Blimp is 75m long - around the same as two and a half blue whales.
  2. The Blimp has a volume of 8,425 cubic meters. If you wanted to fill it with soda, you’d need 25,530,303 cans
  3. The Blimp carries two pilots and up to 14 passengers. 
  4. The Blimp may be big but it’s so simple to take off and land that it requires just three ground crew.
  5. The Blimp has a maximum speed of 125km/h (78mph) - around the same as the fastest downhill skiers.
  6. The Blimp's ideal cruising height is 300m - that's slightly below the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Meet the Goodyear Blimp

The Goodyear Blimp will be visiting some iconic motorsport events this year as well as some of Europe’s biggest cities.

Below you’ll find details of where and when you can see the Goodyear Blimp.

LOCATION

DATE

Munich, Germany

29.4. - 1.5.2022

Spa, Belgium

7.5.2022

London, UK

11 - 15.5.2022

Mönchengladbach, Germany

20 - 22.5.2022

Nürburgring, Germany

28.5.2022

Bonn, Germany

2 - 6.6.2022

Le Mans

10 - 12.6.2022

Milan, Italy

9 - 10.7.2022

Want to see where the blimp is right now?

Best of the Blimp

We'll be adding our favourite shots of the Blimp as it makes its triumphant return but we want yours too. Had a close encounter of the Blimp kind?

Then share it on social with #GoodyearBlimp and we will share our favourite ones on Instagram @goodyeareurope.

Best of the Blimp

Take a privileged peak behind the scenes at the Goodyear Blimp's hangar.

The Cockpit

Goodyear Blimp FAQs

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