New Goodyear Blimp to Fly Within Weeks

2 November 1999
New Goodyear Blimp to Fly Within Weeks
    AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 2 -- Less than four days after the airship
"Spirit of Akron" received severe damage in an accident close to its base at
Wingfoot Lake in Suffield, Ohio, a replacement already is under construction.
The new 192-foot airship will be ready to fly within weeks with full
operations expected in late January.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991102/CLTU016-a
             http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991102/CLTU016-b )
    In announcing the new blimp, Samir G. Gibara, Goodyear chairman, president
and CEO, said:  "The Goodyear blimp is one of the world's best known corporate
icons.  The outpouring of concern we have received from all corners of the
world underlines the deep personal affection that people have for the blimp.
    "We have no intention of disappointing the general public, our customers
or our associates by delaying, even for a day, a decision to replace the
'Spirit of Akron.'  Our associates at Wingfoot Lake already have prepared the
construction site in the hangar for the new airship with work starting
immediately."
    Goodyear Senior Vice President of Global Communications John Perduyn said
the new blimp will be a type GZ20 - which is the same as the blimps "Eagle" in
Carson, Calif. and the "Stars & Stripes" in Pompano Beach, Fla.  "The new
blimp will be ready to fly quickly to fulfill many major television
commitments and dealer visits, as well as public service and charity events
scheduled for the year 2000.
    "We have every intention of meeting those commitments, maintaining
Goodyear's reputation as the world's largest and best tire and rubber
company," said Perduyn.
    The new airship will be assembled by the "Spirit of Akron" crew and other
Goodyear associates, supplemented by Lockheed-Martin personnel.
    Apart from the three airships in the United States, Goodyear operates four
others in Europe, Latin America and Australia.  The company has built more
than 300 airships since its first helium-filled blimp flew in 1925.
    Goodyear is the world's largest tire and rubber company.  Headquartered in
Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and
chemicals in more than 90 facilities in 30 countries.  It has marketing
operations in almost every country around the world.  Goodyear, with the
addition of its Dunlop tire joint ventures, employs more than 105,000 people
worldwide.