GOODYEAR UNLEASHES SECOND AIRSHIP
Company christens semi-rigid, cigar-shaped Wingfoot Two in Akron, Ohio, as it moves to replace fleet of famous blimps
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Goodyear is officially welcoming the second airship in the fleet replacing its famous blimps.
From the ground, the cigar-shaped replacements look much like their predecessors. Though they still use helium and bear the blue-and-gold Goodyear logo, they aren’t technically blimps because they have a fixed structure holding the balloon in place. They also are longer, have a third engine, make less noise and are more maneuverable.
The first of the new models, Wingfoot One, launched in 2014 and is based in Pompano Beach, Florida. Wingfoot Two was finished in March and already was used for some event coverage ahead of Friday’s christening in Akron, where Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. is based.
Wingfoot Two eventually will be based in Carson, where the last of the previous blimps has been operating, Goodyear airship spokeswoman Emily Cropper said.
Goodyear expects to retire the remaining blimp, the Spirit of Innovation, next year and start building the third vehicle in the new fleet, she said.
The other blimps from the old fleet, the Spirit of Goodyear and the Spirit of America, were previously retired.
Since 1917, Goodyear has built more than 300 lighter-than-air vehicles for public relations and defense applications, many built at the Suffield facility.
Akron native Savannah James, the wife of Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, is the official christener for Wingfoot Two.
“Savannah’s Akronborn roots and passion for improving the local community made her a natural choice to christen Wingfoot Two,” said Goodyear CEO Richard J. Kramer in a news release. “Goodyear has a long-standing tradition of enlisting strong, accomplished women to christen our iconic airships, and we are proud to welcome Savannah to the family.”
“I feel absolutely honored to be a part of this christening,” said James in a news release. “With Goodyear being so much a part of Akron and our foundation always wanting to better our community, I feel like it is a perfect match. Goodyear means so much to our community, and we feel a sense of gratitude to be part of this amazing event.”
James was expected to speak at the event and break a bottle of Champagne on the airship’s gondola.
According to Goodyear’s website, other women of note who have been charged with the task of christening Goodyear’s airships through the years are Amelia Earhart in 1929, astronaut Dr. Sally Ride in 2000 and in 2014, Robin Roberts, a co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” christened Wingfoot One.
Goodyear was founded in 1898 in Akron, and is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs approximately 66,000 people and manufactures its products in 49 facilities in 22 countries around the world. The comany has two Innovation Centers, one in Akron and another in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg.