Goodyear Blimp?

[engineczar]

On the ground in Akron Ohio, what do you think, is it?

BTW the Goodyear test track is just north of the blimp.

[McMaster_de]

Yes, thats a blimb. Good catch.

Can be this one

[Huminie]

Good one!

I think it is a bit small to be the Goodyear blimp, although that is definately the area where the "The Spirit of Goodyear" blimp calls home.

I have attached a kmz for the "The Spirit of America" Goodyear blimp which is based in Carson, CA.

Notice that this blimp is around 190 feet, while the one you show is closer to 130 feet.

[McMaster_de]

Here it is.

[engineczar]

I agree it's too small and the wrong color. A blimp none the less.

[McMaster_de]

When you mean the Goodyear, you are wrong.

The Spirit of America is based in Carson, California between Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles.

There are not so much blimps out there in the world and they will easy to identify.

[Huminie]

Absolutely it is a blimp, and you found it on the Goodyear 'compound' so it was only natural to think that was a legit Goodyear blimp. Since the Goodyear company is a rubber company, I believe they make many of the other blimps, but this one is definately one of the smaller cousins.

There are only 3 Goodyear blimps, so they are quite rare, but there are many other smaller blimps and they cover many major sporting events in the US and Canada. Just about every night there is an event that is covered on national TV and you can be sure there is some sort of blimp providing coverage.

I live inbetween LA and San Francisco so I see many blimps flying overhead going back and forth between the events. The make a distinctive sound that you will only hear if it is very quiet. Even though I have seen them dozens of times I always watch as they 'float' by. There is something magical about they way the move across the sky.

Perhaps one day I will get to ride in one! :D

[McMaster_de]

But this blimp is nearly 190 feet long and there is no other with a silver shape color on the top.

[araT]

Here is (one of) the goodyear blimp! (http://www.googleearthhacks.com/dlfile3824/Goodyear-Blimp.htm)

By the way, this photo makes me think there are more than 3 of them..
http://www.reziegler.com/Flight/gylowres.jpg



T.

[McMaster_de]

Here is a hit:

[Huminie]

Here is the Goodyear site that talks about the entire Goodyear blimp fleet: http://www.goodyearblimp.com/fleet/index.html

The current fleet definately stands at 3 blimps.

Just to clarify, the original post shows a blimp at the Goodyear site in Akron OH, but it is not an actual Goodyear blimp. There is a Goodyear blimp on the ground in Carson CA. And McMaster_de has shown yet another blimp which looks to be a Met Life blimp, similar in size to the one in the original post.

[McMaster_de]

Step by step.

The first file couldn't be a Goodyear, because of its red painted aileron. I think it's the MET LIFE. This has red ailerons.

The second file from Huminie is, I think, a Goodyear. It has the blue stabilizer and the yellow aileron and I think they while no other blimp on their ramp.

The third file from me is defintive the one in my thumpnail.

Just for correctness.

[Huminie]

Sounds like we have things straight! :)

Any other blimps out there? :D

[McMaster_de]

The Lightship Group blimp

[McMaster_de]

Another Goodyear Blimp

[McMaster_de]

Maybe the Met Life blimp!

When you think wrong, because of the color from the ailerons, there is no picture from above which can show the correct color.
But when you look near the stern, there is the nose of Snoopy and to the aft is a big Character, like a "M".

[Huminie]

Nice finds! And I agree, I think that is the Met Life blimp.

Funny we have been talking about blimps the last couple days, and yesterday on my way home from work I saw the Goodyear blimp motorcoach bus on the freeway coming the other way! I tried to look for the blimp somewhere in the sky, but I had to keep my eyes on the road for the most part. Must be headed to a game somewhere up here.