The Crawford Auto Aviation Collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society unveiled its latest acquisition today, February 25th. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company donated the gondola from the Spirit of Goodyear blimp which was retired from service last year.
The Spirit of Goodyear.
Source: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
The Spirit of Goodyear flew for 14 years, earning it the distinction of the “Longest Continuous Use for a Blimp” from the Guinness Book of World Records©. Built in 1982, the gondola had seen service on the Goodyear Blimp America for 10 years and on the Stars and Stripes for seven years.
During its 31 year history the gondola appeared over 3 Super Bowls, 3 Baseball World Series, The Kentucky Derby, the Daytona 500, Open tennis and golf tournaments, NCAA football games and NCAA Final Four basketball games and countless NFL and MLB games. It logged over 41,000 hours of flight.
A poster at the entrance of the Western Reserve Historical Society announces the addition of the Goodyear blimp gondola to the Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
Weighing 3,400 pounds and measuring 23 feet in length, it is one of the largest artifacts in the Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.
Kelly Falcone-Hall, CEO of the Western Reserve Historical Society, points out the importance of the latest addition to the exhibits of the Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
Jerry Hissem, Goodyear Pilot in Charge – Wingfoot One, describes the last flight of the Spirit of Goodyear prior to its decommissioning in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
Unveiling of the Spirit of Goodyear gondola at its new home.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
Jerry Hissem, Goodyear Pilot in Charge – Wingfoot One, stand next to the Spirit of Goodyear gondola, now on display at Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
The new exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society included the flag flown on the Spirit of Goodyear on its maiden flight.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
The new exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society included the flag flown on the Spirit of Goodyear on its last flight.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
An engine cowling from Goodyear’s Stars and Stripes blimp, on which the gondola first flew from 1982 – 1992.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon
The Guinness Book of World Records© certificate for the “Longest Continuous Use for a Blimp” was also on display.
Photo: Alvaro Bellon