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Goodyear Debuts New Blimp in South America

20 April 1998

Goodyear Debuts New Blimp in South America

    SAO PAULO, Brazil, April 20 -- One of the world's most famous
corporate icons now has an official South American address.
    The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company officially launched the "Spirit of the
Americas" here today, marking the first time a Goodyear airship has called
South America its home.
    "Truly, this gives us a global airship presence," said Goodyear Chairman
Sam Gibara.  "With the 'Spirit of the Americas,' new airships in Europe and
our present fleet in North America, we have the largest blimp fleet in the
world."
    After spending the rest of the month in Brazil, the new Goodyear airship
is scheduled to fly to Argentina to participate in the launch of the Latin
America region's new commercial truck tire.
    Like its U.S. and European counterparts, the new blimp will enhance
television coverage in South America on a year-round basis.  The Spirit of the
Americas will concentrate on major televised sports such as soccer, tennis,
auto racing, and other high-visibility public events, and be used for Goodyear
public relations, 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," said
Goodyear Chairman Sam Gibara.
    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. blimps, 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.
    The "Spirit of the Americas" will be operated and maintained by The
Lightship Group.
    "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 of Goodyear's Latin America
region.
    Goodyear has been conducting business in Latin America since 1931 with its
first manufacturing facility in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Today, Goodyear has
13 tire and rubber products plants located in eight countries - Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela - employing
more than 10,000 associates.
    The blimp tradition began in 1925 when Goodyear built its first helium-
filled public relations airship, the "Pilgrim."  Other airships followed, most
of them 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