My Flight on the Goodyear Airship!
Wingfoot 3 arriving for pickup.
Life sometimes throws us completely unexpected opportunities that we shouldn’t ever pass up and that’s how my second day of the Consumer Electronics Show went this year. A friend, Rebecca Lindland, a true automotive industry expert, arranged for me to join her for a ride on the Goodyear Airship at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. They don’t technically call it a “blimp” anymore because of how it’s built. Still, it’s known as the blimp, so everyone I know calls it that.
From the time I was invited to the time I was at the Goodyear pickup point was about 30 minutes. The cab couldn’t get me there fast enough! I’d have washed the entire thing for a chance to go for a ride. I wouldn’t pass up that rare opportunity for anything.
Goodyear doesn’t offer rides to the general public. They use it for corporate interests, the press, and that’s about it. The chance to go for a ride is extremely rare and a real privilege. Just the complexity of managing an airship isn’t trivial, and it requires a substantial crew to work offsite at an event like CES and because of weather, nothing is guaranteed.
As a kid we’d watch it fly over Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the EAA annual air show and it was thrilling to see it lumber over. I was captivated by the moving colored lights at night, combined by the low drone of the engines. As a kid I was invited through a friend’s father to go for a ride, but on the scheduled day and time, the weather got ugly and they canceled the flight.
One of the Goodyear pilots drove the van with six of us from the pickup point to North Las Vegas Airport. Along the way, we were explained how the team worked and some of the history of the program, along with answers to our questions, such as how these pilots became rated in an airship? It’s not like you can go someplace for blimp lessons. Yet, these pilots were still the best of the best at what they do and were all experienced pilots before joining the program.
When we arrived, we passed through the gate, directly to the landing point where we were given a safety briefing and an explanation of the loading procedure. The thing about airships is that they don’t just land and sit. You’re climbing on a balloon, so our arrival at the airport had to be timed with the arrival of the blimp. They needed us there first.
When Wingfoot 3 arrived, I was surprised by how slow it moved into position and hung in the air about thirty feet above the ground, as if you put the entire landing on slow motion. When it finally landed, as if they were docking a boat, they escorted the group behind a removable ladder where we were loaded with two on, two off and so on, all to keep the airship as neutral as possible. The airship was slowly moving from side to side, up and down, while they kept it as steady as they could, all untethered.
Once we were aboard the gondola, they removed the ladder, closed the door, and we were given another safety briefing, and to my delight, invited to walk around once Wingfoot 3 was in the air. I watched the two pilots do another preflight before they made their radio call. The side engines pivoted up, there was the noise of the added power, and we were soon in a slow climb moving laterally as we turned towards downtown Las Vegas, all while in a steady climb, windows open.
Notice Goodyear and automotive branding everywhere?
When we reached what looked like about 1,500 feet above ground, we were free to walk around the cabin and take pictures. One of the pilots came back to answer questions and make sure everyone stayed safe. We were lumbering slowly at about 40 knots, while everyone moved around taking pictures of everything.
The busy strip during CES 2020
The sensation of riding the blimp is similar to cruising in a large helicopter, without the vibration, or noise. Even with the windows open, there was no loud anything. We could hear conversations from end to end.
You’re flying low and slow enough that you can see people going about their lives. Now and then you see someone waving or watching it fly over. Because the windows lean out, it’s possible to shoot photos straight down.
Built in 2018, Wingfoot 3 has a full Garmin panel.
The cabin holds twelve passengers with a crew of two, with a wide isle and plenty of headroom. There is a slight rocking sensation, but nothing you’d notice. There is a bathroom on board, and that’s about it. The open windows are large enough for cameras for stadium applications. The windows along each seat are massive!
What a view!
After a tour of Las Vegas, we flew back and made a slow uneventful landing as if we were beaching a boat in slow motion. We reversed the process of two on, two off, and soon we were walked to the side to take photos of the next departure.
It doesn’t take a massive engine to move such a large object when it weighs nothing.
I kept thinking about the complexity of maintaining thee airships around the US, along with the crew, training, logistics, and other complexities of ownership. Yet, I think of what it’s done for Goodyear as a brand. For me, the brand screams of Americana and Apple Pie. Who doesn’t love seeing the blimp fly? It’s a program that I hope never ends. Even when others have tried to mimic the program, there is just something about the Goodyear Blimp that sets it apart from all others. I’m glad they still keep it flying!
Wingfoot 3 getting ready to depart with the next group.