Goodyear Donates Last Remaining Blimp Gondola to EAA Museum for Children's Exhibit

Goodyear is donating its last remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Museum as part of a new children's exhibit. The gondola frame is from the GZ20 model era of blimps and was previously used on the Europa and Stars and Stripes. This donation marks the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp program and aims to inspire future generations of aviation enthusiasts. Fans can also take home a limited-edition keepsake item featuring a piece of the Goodyear Blimp's envelope.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT) has announced a significant donation to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Museum. On the opening day of the 2025 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show, Goodyear will donate its last-remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Museum as part of a new children's exhibit [1]. This donation marks the 100th anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp program and aims to inspire future generations of aviation enthusiasts.

The donated gondola frame is from the GZ20 model era of blimps, which spanned nearly 40 years. It was previously used on the Europa blimp in the 1980s and the Stars and Stripes in the early 2000s. This tradition ended in 2011 when Goodyear began the transition to the New Technology (NT) semi-rigid airship platform [2].

In addition to the gondola donation, Goodyear is offering fans a unique opportunity to take home a piece of aviation history. The Spirit of Goodyear keepsake item includes a genuine piece of envelope that flew with the Spirit of Goodyear blimp across North America from 2000 to 2014. This limited-edition keepsake is available for purchase while supplies last [1]. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the EAA Museum to contribute to the children's museum build.

Goodyear's 2025 presence at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show will feature two blimps: Wingfoot One with a vintage-inspired wrap and Wingfoot Two with an LED sign. This is the first time two Goodyear blimps will appear at the event, marking the company's centennial celebrations [3].

The donation of the blimp gondola frame and the keepsake items are part of Goodyear's efforts to preserve the history of its airships program and carry the legacy of the Goodyear Blimp forward for future generations. Michael Dougherty, Goodyear's Chief Pilot, stated, "As we celebrate our blimp program's 100th anniversary, there's no better way to honor its legacy than by inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts" [1].

References:

[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodyear-to-donate-last-remaining-gz20-era-blimp-gondola-to-the-eaa-museum-for-a-childrens-exhibit-302509562.html

[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/GT/goodyear-to-donate-last-remaining-gz20-era-blimp-gondola-to-the-eaa-2x5p70i2wo6f.html

[3] https://inspire.eaa.org/2025/07/20/goodyear-blimp-100th-anniversary-brings-two-airships-to-oshkosh/