Goodyear to begin $63M program to make new state-of-the-art blimps

Goodyear to begin $63M program to make new state-of-the-art blimps

AKRON

German-made parts that will be used to build new, larger and faster Goodyear blimps are arriving at the company’s airship hangar in northeast Ohio.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that parts delivered last week at the Wingfoot Lake hangar base near Akron are the first of many to come.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is preparing to begin construction in January of its new state-of-the-art airship. The new aircraft will replace the Spirit of Goodyear blimp.

The new airship will be part of a $63 million overhaul of Goodyear’s blimp fleet announced last year.

Goodyear is teaming up with a German manufacturer to replace its three U.S. airships. The first new blimp will go into operation in 2014.