Building on the announcement earlier this year that Goodyear will bring two of its iconic airships to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this July, the company has now revealed that one of them—Wingfoot One—will receive a special livery commemorating 100 years of Goodyear blimp operations. The aircraft will be wrapped in historic 1925 markings to honor the company’s first airship, Pilgrim, which took flight that same year.
This tribute celebrates a century-long journey that began when Goodyear launched its first branded airship flights in 1925. While the company’s aeronautical roots trace back to the creation of its Aeronautics Department in 1910, it was Pilgrim’s debut that marked the start of the Goodyear Blimp as a cultural and aviation icon. Innovations followed swiftly—by 1930, Goodyear launched its first blimp with a lighted sign, and in 1955, it began aerial broadcasting over the Rose Bowl.
At AirVenture 2025, both airships will participate in the daily air shows on selected days and will be moored near the EAA Aviation Museum and Pioneer Airport, allowing attendees an up-close look at these modern descendants of a century-old legacy. The airships on display are part of Goodyear’s current fleet of Zeppelin NT (New Technology) semi-rigid airships, introduced in 2011 to replace the company’s earlier blimps.
Goodyear’s participation in Oshkosh dates back to 1971, when the airship America made its first fly-in appearance. The blimps have become a beloved feature of the event, with their most recent appearance at AirVenture occurring in 2021. As EAA AirVenture 2025 shapes up to be a landmark year, the return of Goodyear’s airships—especially in their vintage markings—promises to be a highlight for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike. For more information, visit www.eaa.org/airventure
