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Goodyear Blimp, Carson, Ca, 1966
Last Saturday Evening after giving the “Theme Park” Tour of Downtown Los Angeles, I wound up celebrating with friends at the revolving cocktail lounge high atop the Bonaventure Hotel. Dusk ended and the night began as we sat there drinking and taking in the ever changing view of the neighboring skyscrapers and twinkling lights of the most modern metropolis on earth. Yes, it was VERY Tomorrowland. As if the experience weren’t out-of-this-world enough already, the blimp flew by. To me, a blimp sighting is always a magic moment – and has been my whole life.
Goodyear Blimps have been flying billboards for the tire and rubber company for 80 years. The tradition of the "Aerial Ambassadors" began in 1925 when Goodyear built its first helium-filled airship. Over the years Goodyear built more than 300 blimps, more than any other company in the world. The company’s world headquarters in Akron, Ohio was the center of blimp manufacturing for several decades. Today, there are three Goodyear Blimps. They are based in Akron, Ohio, Pompano Beach, Florida and Carson, California. The official name of our blimp is The Spirit of America. It’s Goodyear’s newest airship and the third to be based in California – the first was in 1968.
The Spirit of America makes about 10 flights per day. It has a one man crew – the pilot, and carries just five passengers. During daylight hours it takes invitation-only guests and VIPs for 45-minute rides. After dark, it becomes the ultimate billboard and a diamond in the sky.
Here’s to the Goodyear Blimp and you
Posted Thursday, March 10th, 2005 under Slide of the Week.
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How does one get invited to fly on the Goodyear Blimp?
I AM GOING TO BE 80YEARS OLD AND FOR MY BIRTHDAY i would love a ride in the goodyear blimp.
Hi I’m Australian and my husband is from here but next month my daughter and I are going back to Australia to live and my husband is going to alone here for at least 2 months and he just gave me the most wonderful Mother’s Day and he is also going on and on about the Good Year Blimp if he see’s it in the sky he will forget where we were going and watch it land and he is always making comments about how he would love to ride it and it always trying to find out how. Anyway my question to you is how do I make his wish come true I would love to do this for him for Father’s Day and it’s his first as my daughter is 7 months old I would love to be able to give this to him is it possible I would love to do this for him please help me. Looking forward to hearing from you.
I got to ride in the blimp – it isn’t open to the public though. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Amazing ride, even got to “fly” it.
To be able to take a ride in the Goodyear blimp has been on my list of things to do for 2007. I think that it would be a dream come true!
Please contact me if there is a chance!
One day, mom and I were traveling on the 405 fwy and saw the Goodyear blimp. We noticed, the blimp doesn’t move rapidly, like a jet plane. It’s kinda like Hot Air Ballooning but a diffrent airship… i wouldn’t know, cause i’ve never ridden in the Goodyear Blimp. I’m curious to feel the motion and distance, while making my own history in the spirit of America. How can Mom and I make this trip come true? We’d like to fly on the Goodyear Blimp. Please contact me when their is a flight available.
I don’t know why people think I’m in charge of Goodyear Blimp rides. If I were in charge we’d all have a chance!!!
November 7th is my wifes birthday. She told me once that she would love to ride on the Goodyear Blimp. I would love to suprise her Thursday morning with a ride on the blimp. It would score me some huge points. How can I make her dream come true?
Thanks for this bit of info. I was looking for a picture of the blimp when I found you. This Carson based blimp was the one I used to see on the way to my Grandma’s house. I used to think how fun it would be to get married inside that little spot for people. I have very found memories of this lovely bird along the 405. I am 44 years old and wish these great gray creatures were seen more often. I say to heck with Fugi film…get a real blimp, get a Goodyear! PS. I get it Charles! A blogger not a blimper be! Hence I shall not ask you how, when or why you will not grant me a ride! Jennifer
How does one get invited to ride the Goodyear blimp? it is a dream on mine to ride such a magnificent aircraft. I will do anything for a chance to experience it, donate money to a charity, volunteer just about anything. Please someone let me know.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET A RIDE ON THE GOODYEAR BLIMP. IF YOU FIND OUT PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A LIFELONG DREAM OF MINE TOO!
CHARLES
Awwwwww……come on…you SURE you can’t make a ride on the Blimp happen? I appreciated your entry about the blimp and promise you not to ask you to help me get a ride.
FWIW, my daughter was driving down
Interstate 81 in Virginia, on May 7th, and the GY Blimp flew over her…she got pictures on her cell phone, they were quite good!
Also found this information on WIKPEDIA.com:
The GZ-20 blimps Goodyear operates in the U.S have seating for only six passengers. No seatbelts are required.
The only passengers that Goodyear will allow on the blimps are corporate guests of the company and members of the press. No public rides are offered. This has been Goodyear’s long standing policy. However, for over 50 years, it had to offer limited public rides at its Miami, FL winter base on Watson Island as part of its land-lease deal with the city in order to operate from the island. That practice ended in 1979 when the base was moved to Opa-Locka, FL.
Chharles,
Goodyear blimps have been based in California since the late 1920s.Mainly in Carson. Not 1968.
I’m turning 58 yrs old. And this is one of my dreams since I was small. I just read on AAA magazine about an article on Blimp and was fascinated with story. Please I would like to know the cost to ride the Blimp?
My life long dream is to ride in a blimp. I have watched the blimps fly over several Rose Parades and Super Bowl festivities and just dream of one day riding in one. After battling cancer this past year and turning 60 on my next birthday I have put riding in a blimp on my bucket list. How can I make this dream come true?
I live near the Wingfoot hangar and would like to know how to get signed up for a ride?
I could be there within 15 minutes.
Rita Stapleton
Uniontown, Ohio 44685