Goodyear Blimp

Brian Lockett · December 09, 2011, 10:51:05 AM

Goodyear Blimp Columbia crashing into the Tucson Airport terminal in April 1971.

Actually, a dust devil got hold of it while it was tethered to its mast on the far side of the terminal.

phantomphan1974 · December 09, 2011, 03:48:42 PM

Over MCAS Tustin Goodyear by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

This is when it laned and they changed Goodyear to Lightyear for Cars 2 movie.

Chris Kennedy · December 09, 2011, 04:06:07 PM

Here's a shot of the old Goodyear blimp Mayflower taken in 1973 at the Sebring, Florida airport/race course.

Brian Lockett · December 09, 2011, 11:37:34 PM

Goodyear blimp Columbia N3A at Goodyear in March 1971

Taken with a Kodak 314 Instamatic.

bilwor · December 10, 2011, 08:46:37 AM

Goodyear Blimp America N10A Taken late 60s or early 70s at the Goodyear Blimp base Spring TX.

Brian Lockett · December 10, 2011, 09:30:32 PM

Douglas DC-3 N25CE Puff taxies past Goodyear Blimp N4A Columbia at the Santa Barbara Airport in October 1985.

Brian Lockett · December 12, 2011, 03:44:39 PM

Goodyear blimp N3A Columbia at Goodyear in March 1971. I went for the old newspaper clipping look.

Chris Kennedy · December 12, 2011, 04:08:43 PM

Back around 1980, I actually got to ride in the one that was based in the LA area at that time. I think it held four passengers. Once we were loaded, the ground handler actually lifted the whole blimp off the ground so he could tell whether to add or subtract ballast. In our case, they removed some. When he was ready to leave, the pilot asked us if we wanted the normal takeoff or the high-performance one. Of course we said the high-performance one and we took off at about a 45 degree angle. It was a lot of fun. It takes forever to get anywhere though. I think the ground speed was about 30 mph.

Scott Youmans · May 28, 2012, 11:22:36 AM

Goodyear Blimp "Enterprise" - July 2000, During January of 1970 I got to fly on the very similar "Columbia" when it was flying out of Litchfield. Very similar experience to Chris's earlier post, very steep take-off, steep descent too with no seat belts. Quite an experience for a fourteen year old that loved blimps. Just being able to get close up to it was a thrill. I still have my Goodyear Blimp Club membership card.