On the opening day of the 2025 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh show, Goodyear announced it will donate its last remaining GZ20 Goodyear blimp gondola frame to the EAA Museum. The gondola will become part of a new children’s exhibit designed to inspire young aviation enthusiasts.
Preserving the Legacy of the Goodyear Gondola Blimp
The donated gondola frame comes from the GZ20 model era, which spanned nearly 40 years. It was previously used on the Europa blimp in the 1980s and the Florida-based Stars and Stripes in the 2000s. Goodyear retired the GZ20 platform in 2011 when it transitioned to its current New Technology semi-rigid airships.
“There’s no better way to honor its legacy than by inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts,” said Michael Dougherty, Goodyear’s Chief Pilot. “We hope this exhibit sparks curiosity and dreams of flight on aircraft of all kinds in countless children into the future.”
Goodyear also unveiled the Spirit of Goodyear keepsake. It features a piece of the iconic blimp’s envelope that flew across North America from 2000 to 2014. Packaged in a commemorative 100th anniversary box, the keepsake is available through the Goodyear Fan Store while supplies last. A portion of proceeds supports the EAA Museum’s children’s exhibit.
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