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Goodyear christening 2nd airship in fleet replacing blimps

Goodyear christening 2nd airship in fleet replacing blimps | iNFOnews.ca
This Oct. 6, 2016 photo shows Goodyear's newest airship, Wingfoot Two, in Mogadore, Ohio. Goodyear is officially welcoming Wingfoot Two, the second airship in the fleet replacing its famous blimps. The first of the new models, Wingfoot One was launched in 2014. From the ground, the cigar-shaped replacements look much like their predecessors. Though they still use helium and bear the blue-and-gold Goodyear logo, they aren't technically blimps because they have a fixed structure holding the balloon in place. (Malcolm Porter/WEWS-TV via AP)

AKRON, Ohio – Goodyear is officially welcoming the second airship in the fleet replacing its famous blimps.

The replacements look much like their predecessors but aren’t technically blimps because they have a fixed structure holding the balloon in place. They also are longer, have a third engine, make less noise and are more manoeuvrable.

The first new model, Wingfoot One, launched in 2014 and is based in Florida. Wingfoot Two already has been used for event coverage ahead of Friday’s christening in Akron, Ohio.

A spokeswoman says Wingfoot Two eventually will be based in Carson, California, where the last of the previous blimps has been operating. Goodyear expects to retire that blimp, the Spirit of Innovation, next year and start building the third vehicle in the new fleet.

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