Akron, Ohio — July 21, 2025 — On the opening day of the 2025 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company revealed plans to donate its final surviving gondola frame from the iconic GZ20 blimp series to the EAA Aviation Museum. This donation will play a central role in a new exhibit dedicated to inspiring children and nurturing a passion for aviation. The gondola frame dates back to Goodyear’s long-running GZ20 era, which spanned nearly four decades. Traditionally, as blimps were retired, their gondolas were refurbished and reused on new airships. The gondola being gifted to the EAA Museum once flew on the Europa blimp, which served Europe in the 1980s, and later on the Stars and Stripes, based in Florida in the early 2000s. This practice ended in 2011 when Goodyear transitioned to its current New Technology (NT) semi-rigid airship design, which remains the foundation for its modern fleet.
This donation is part of Goodyear’s centennial celebration of its blimp program, underscoring its commitment to preserving the legacy of airship aviation and inspiring future generations. “As we celebrate 100 years of our blimp program, there is no better way to honor that history than by encouraging young people to dream about flight,” said Michael Dougherty, Goodyear’s Chief Pilot. “We hope this exhibit will ignite curiosity and a lifelong fascination with all types of aircraft.”
Chris Henry, manager of the EAA Aviation Museum, echoed this enthusiasm, saying, “The Goodyear Blimp has been a beloved symbol in aviation for a century. This donation perfectly aligns with our mission to share the story of flight and inspire future aviators through engaging exhibits.”
A Unique Keepsake for Blimp Fans
In addition to the gondola donation, Goodyear is offering fans an extraordinary chance to own a piece of blimp history. The Spirit of Goodyear keepsake features an authentic fragment of the envelope from the Spirit of Goodyear blimp, which flew across North America from 2000 to 2014. This limited-edition memento comes in a special 100th-anniversary presentation box. The Spirit of Goodyear was christened in 2000 by NASA astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Over its service life, it set a Guinness World Record for the longest continuously operated airship and was the first blimp to provide high-definition aerial TV coverage of a sporting event. When retired in 2014, its gondola was donated to the Crawford Aviation Museum in Cleveland, while the envelope was preserved for this keepsake collection. Fans can purchase the Spirit of Goodyear keepsake at the Goodyear Fan Store while supplies last, with a portion of proceeds supporting the EAA Museum’s children’s exhibit.
Goodyear’s 2025 AirVenture Oshkosh Activities
At this year’s event, Goodyear Aviation will showcase its latest tire technologies at booth #489. As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations, Goodyear is also bringing two blimps to Oshkosh for the first time: Wingfoot One, sporting a vintage wrap inspired by the original Pilgrim blimp, will appear in daytime airshows, while Wingfoot Two, featuring a dazzling LED sign, will perform during evening shows. For ongoing updates, fans can follow @Goodyear and @GoodyearBlimp on social media.
About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Goodyear is among the world’s largest tire manufacturers, employing approximately 68,000 people across 53 production facilities in 20 countries. Its Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, develop cutting-edge products and technologies setting industry standards. Learn more at www.goodyear.com/corporate.
