Look! It's the Blimp!

No this is NOT the Hindenburg! This is the Goodyear Blimp! Goodyear, the world's largest tire and rubber company began flying blimps with their corporate logo on them in 1925. In the '30s they built two giant rigid airships for the US Navy. These ships had a metal framework and were huge...measuring almost two 200 yards long with a gross weight of 400,000 pounds. Both of these early ships were lost in storms within two years of being put into service. In the 1940's and '50's, Goodyear built a fleet of surveillance airships which were used to protect merchant fleets along the coast.

Today, Goodyear flies three Blimps in the U.S.- the Spirit of America, based in the City of Carson, California; the Spirit of Goodyear and the Spirit of Innovation, both based in Pompano Beach, Florida. Goodyear is currently building a new fleet of Airships and will soon retire these three. The above info was gleaned from the official Goodyear Blimp Official Site.

I grew up with the Goodyear Blimp. In Miami it was a common occurrence to look up and see one of these very large and silent running ships going over your neighborhood. They were and are still used for ariel shots at big events. Many of the shots and video you see while watching Football (American) games are taken by one of these Blimps.

This blip was shot with my iPhone from my car. Sitting at a light, I look up and there she was, in all her Blimpish Glory.