Goodyear Blimp Returns for Appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021
June 2, 2021 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s newest airship, Wingfoot Three, will continue a long tradition of Oshkosh Goodyear appearances with a visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, scheduled for July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
Goodyear’s Wingfoot Three is scheduled to arrive in Oshkosh on Monday, July 26, and will be on display and be flying at various times during the event until Saturday, July 31. At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, Wingfoot Three pilots will also participate at a variety of events, as AirVenture is one of the few air shows on the Goodyear Blimp schedule this year.
“Through the years, there’s a special excitement when attendees arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and one of the first sights they see is the iconic Goodyear Blimp parked on the grounds or in the air overhead,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Goodyear has been an important AirVenture exhibitor for many years and it’s always a great to see that Oshkosh has made the ‘Blimp-Worthy’ list of America’s major events.”
Wingfoot Three is the newest addition to the Goodyear Blimp fleet, as it was first flown in June 2018. It marked the completion of the full fleet to the New Technology (NT) platform. The blimp was manufactured by Germany’s ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and assembled by a team of Zeppelin and Goodyear engineers. It represented the first major structural change of a Goodyear Blimp in nearly 70 years.
The Wingfoot Three appearance continues a 50-year tradition of Goodyear airship appearances at EAA’s fly-in convention. The first Goodyear Blimp appearance at the EAA fly-in was in 1971, when the airship America came to Oshkosh. Several generations of Goodyear Blimps have flown to and over EAA fly-ins since then.
Goodyear Aviation will also continue its participation as an EAA AirVenture exhibitor in 2021 in the Main Aircraft Display area, exhibit No. 489.
Goodyear’s aerial coverage of marquee events in 2021 has already included the numerous NASCAR, PGA, and NBA events. The Goodyear Blimp has been honored with induction as an honorary member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the first non-player or coach to be inducted. More information is available at GoodyearBlimp.com.
