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It's Triplets for The Goodyear Blimp - World Fleet to Double!

17 December 1997

It's Triplets for The Goodyear Blimp - World Fleet to Double!

    AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 17 -- Following the recent trend of
multiple births, the Goodyear blimp, one of the world's most famous corporate
icons, is expecting triplets.
    Delivery is set for early 1998, when Goodyear's Europe and Latin America
regions will celebrate the arrival of their own blimps, joining their three
big sisters in the U.S.
    "With these new ships -- two in Europe and one in Latin America -- plus
plans for another one in our Asia/Australia region, Goodyear's global blimp
fleet will be the largest in the world," chairman Sam Gibara said.
    Like their U.S. counterparts, the new blimps will enhance television
coverage the U.S. ships already provide on a global scale.  They will
concentrate on major televised sports such as soccer, golf, racing, and other
high-visibility public events, and be used for Goodyear marketing and
community relations activities.
    For nearly 70 years, Goodyear's blimps have sailed the skies as very
visible corporate symbols of the tire and rubber company formed in 1898.  "It
is a tribute to our heritage, our growth, and our strength that we are able to
take our blimps as a corporate symbol globally in our centennial year," Gibara
said.
    Goodyear's blimps are familiar visitors at national and international
events, such as the baseball World Series, the Indianapolis 500, football's
Super Bowl, and Summer and Winter Olympics.
    Like the U.S. ships, the new airships will have state-of-the-art camera
systems to provide quality video coverage of any event.  Combined, all six
blimps are expected to cover an average of 300 television events each year.
    Europe's two "Spirit of Europe" blimps, and "Spirit of The Americas" in
Latin America, will be operated and maintained by The Lightship Group.
    "We're pleased to renew our blimp tradition in Europe," said Sylvain
Valensi, vice president for the European region.  There has not been a
Goodyear blimp there since the company's airship Europa was deactivated in
1986.
    "Our two new blimps will certainly enhance our already strong image in
western Europe and in the developing countries in central and eastern Europe,"
Valensi added.  "With two blimps, we will cover events the length and breadth
of Europe, providing an unmatched capability as an aerial platform for major
television networks."
    "This is an opportunity to build on our reputation as the No. 1 tire
company in Latin America; we know our associates and customers share that
enthusiasm," said John Polhemus, vice president for Goodyear's Latin America
region.
    The blimp tradition began in 1925 when Goodyear built its first helium-
filled public relations airship, the "Pilgrim."  Other ships followed, most
named after winners of the famed America's Cup yacht race because these are
giant sailing ships of the skies.
    Over the years, Goodyear built more than 300 airships, more than any other
company in the world.  Akron, Ohio, the company's corporate headquarters,
became the center of blimp manufacturing.  Even though Goodyear no longer
manufactures airships, lighter-than-air aviation's heritage is rooted there
through the continued operations of the company's fleet.

SOURCE  The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company