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'Stars & Stripes' Blimp to Fly Again

25 August 2000

    AKRON, Ohio - Goodyear has announced the "Stars & Stripes" will fly again.

    Goodyear said its Florida-based blimp, one of the flagships of its global
airship fleet, will be rebuilt and return to the air early in 2001.  The blimp
was damaged Saturday when it deflated in Philadelphia.

    "We want the 'Stars & Stripes' flying with the rest of the fleet as soon
as possible to support our wide range of public service programs, dealer
events and television programs," said John Perduyn, senior vice president of
global communications.

    He said the rebuilding process will be done at the blimp's base in Pompano
Beach, Fla., where winter weather conditions will not restrict final assembly
and test flight operations.  Goodyear has a large hangar in Pompano and the
crew there will be able to assemble and erect the airship in an efficient
manner.

    "Except for the envelope, most of the 'Stars & Stripes' blimp's existing
parts will be used to reconstruct the ship," Perduyn said.  "The gondola,
engines and tail fins were not heavily damaged and we have a spare envelope."
    He also noted that the conventional LED nightsign on the ship will be
upgraded to EagleVision, an aerial sign system that is visible during the day
and has more graphics options.

    No one was injured when a severe gust of wind apparently pushed the "Stars
& Stripes" into its portable mooring mast, tearing and deflating the envelope.

    Goodyear already is taking extraordinary measures to fulfill the extensive
TV commitments originally scheduled for "Stars & Stripes" this fall, including
the possible use of a leased blimp, helicopters or airplanes.

    "Fall is an extremely busy season," Perduyn explained, "as professional
and college football gets underway and the baseball playoffs begin.  We do not
want to miss these high-viewership events and the opportunity to support our
television network customers who rely on us for top level professional
support."

    A Goodyear blimp, the "Spirit of the South Pacific," is in Australia to
assist in television coverage of the upcoming Olympics.  Rather than the
traditional Goodyear name, that ship has "G'day" and "GOOD LUCK" messages to
the athletes on its sides due to commercial restrictions from the Olympics.
    The "Stars & Stripes" is one of seven Goodyear airships around the world.
The ship, 192 feet long and 59 feet high, holds more than 202,000 cubic feet
of helium and air.  It has a maximum speed of 50 mph with a cruising speed of
30 mph.  It can carry a pilot and six passengers.

    In addition to the Florida and Australia airships, Goodyear also has two
other blimps based in the United States, two in Europe and one in Latin
America.