By Steffen Vukojevich
Staff Writer
Goodyear’s Carson-based blimp, “The Spirit of Innovation,” made its last flight on March 13.
Goodyear will unveil a new and improved blimp, “Wingfoot Two,” in late 2017.
The airship will feature an entirely new design with enhanced capabilities, including faster speeds, quieter engines, advanced on-board avionics and greater capacity for passengers.
One thing I remember about the old blimp was how noisy it was inside.
That’s right, I got to ride in it.
When I was 13, my father, who works for Ford Motor Co., made some calls to the people of Goodyear, and they gave us the opportunity to ride in “The Spirit of Innovation,” which was stationed close to the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus.
Upon arrival, I noticed the massive size of the blimp and was surprised to see how it was held down.
The Goodyear blimp does not exactly land. Instead, a crew of men grab extremely long ropes that are attached to the blimp and simply tie it to the ground.
Once the men grounded the blimp, it was our turn to enter. We stepped into the small interior of the blimp, about the size of a minivan, and the crewmen untied us.
The engine of the blimp roared loudly, despite our ear protection. Our flight was beautiful as we hovered over Carson and then Long Beach Harbor, directly over the Queen Mary.
The ride in “The Spirit of Innovation” was unforgettable. I hope to one day tour the area again in the new “Wingfoot Two.”
Paul Fitzhenry, senior vice president of global communications for Goodyear’s parent company, is excited to unveil the new blimp.
“At Goodyear, we honor tradition and drive toward innovation,” Fitzhenry said. “We are proud to usher in this new era of our world-renowned brand icon and look forward to operating the new blimp in our Carson base.”