September 6, 2015 – Special Program Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Loss of the USS Shenandoah

USS Shenandoah moored to a portable mast, ca 1924-1925On Sunday, September 6 at 2 PM, a ceremony will be held in the center of Ava, Ohio, (about four miles North of I-77 – Exit 28, along Route 821) to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the crash of the U.S. Navy’s first rigid airship. Continue reading →

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Following Its Retirement the Goodyear Blimp Spirit of America Is Dismantled

07 Lower tail finSource: KCBS-TV, channel 2, Los Angeles – losangeles.cbslocal.com

The following images were extracted from the KCBS news report covering the dismantling of Goodyear’s Spirit of America blimp. All images courtesy of KCBS-TV, Channel 2, Los Angeles Continue reading →

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Follow the 59th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett online – Launch of the gas balloons on Friday !

58th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon BennettSource: Fédération Aéronautique Internationale – fai.org

The Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett, the FAI World Long Distance Gas Balloon Championship, is the oldest and most prestigious event in aviation and the ultimate challenge for the pilots.

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Akron’s Farewell to the Spirit of Innovation, the Last GZ20A Blimp

Spirit of InnovationSource: Akron Beacon Journal – ohio.com

The Spirit of Innovation, the last of Goodyear’s GZ20A blimps, leaves Wednesday (August 26) morning for its new home base in California. This may be the last opportunity to see an “old school” Goodyear blimp in Akron area skies.

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Goodyear blimp tandem flights are a farewell tour – Schedule change

Picture1Source: Akron Beacon Journal – ohio.com

By Jim Mackinnon

Goodyear blimps …

When to see the tandem flights (times approximate):

  •  Friday: 2 to 4 p.m. The airships will fly over Goodyear’s headquarters, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and Stan Hywet.
  •  Monday: 4 to 6 p.m.
The airships will fly over some Akron public schools, Goodyear’s corporate headquarters and then the LeBron James Family Foundation.

How to tell the two apart:

  •  Wingfoot One is larger. It has three engines, one at the rear. Its gondola sits forward under the envelope. It has three tail fins.
  •  The Spirit of Innovation has two engines attached to the gondola, which is centered under the envelope. It has four tail fins.

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