Vintage wrapped Goodyear blimp to make debut flight at Kentucky Derby

Akron, OH – Earlier this month, Goodyear announced that its Ohio-based blimp Wingfoot One will be wrapped with a vintage, black-and-white design reminiscent of Goodyear’s very first branded blimp, Pilgrim, as part of the blimp’s centennial anniversary celebrations.

The airship will debut its new look at the 151st Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky this weekend, providing aerial views of the biggest horse race in the world.

“As a historic event that combines the competition of racing with tradition and style, the Kentucky Derby provides an ideal moment for our iconic, vintage-wrapped airship to make its debut,” said Laura Duda, Goodyear’s senior vice president and Chief Communications Officer. “For 100 years, the Goodyear Blimp has become known for its appearance at big events, and this race is one of many where fans can spot us throughout our most ambitious year ever.”

This marks the first time the Goodyear Blimp has appeared over the Kentucky Derby since 2011. In celebration of its return, the company will also unveil a limited run of custom-designed, blimp-themed hats for the event in a nod to the long-standing Kentucky Derby tradition. These hats can be spotted throughout the race weekend festivities and on the Goodyear Blimp’s social media channels.

New Blimp, New Merch – With the return of the blue and yellow Goodyear “house flag” as part of Wingfoot One’s vintage redesign – a symbol that appeared on the company’s earliest blimps, Goodyear is also releasing a new line of merchandise called the “Goodyear Flagship Collection.” As part of this collection, apparel and drinkware will feature simple, clean designs of the Goodyear house flag and blimp propeller with the slogan “Since 1925.”

The preppy, somewhat nautical look and feel of this collection is intended to reflect the Goodyear Blimp’s early positioning as an “air yacht.”

In fact, beginning with the Goodyear Blimp Puritan that made its debut in 1928, Goodyear began a nearly 50-year tradition of naming its blimps after racing yachts that won the America’s Cup Series. This tradition ended when Goodyear named its 1987 blimp the Spirit of Akron in honor of the city where the company’s airships program began.