GZ-20 | |
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Spirit of Innovation | |
Role | non rigid airship |
National origin | United States of America |
Manufacturer | Goodyear |
Introduction | 1969 |
Status | active |
Primary user | Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company |
Number built | 6 |
The Goodyear GZ-20 is a non-rigid airship introduced in 1969 in the United States by Goodyear as its signature promotional aircraft. The design is a development of the GZ-19 class, featuring a larger envelope to carry the "Super-Skytacular" night sign and more powerful engines.
The GZ-20 was introduced as part of a $US 4 million expansion programme by Goodyear in 1968 that included the construction of a new GZ-19 Florida based airship (Mayflower N1A), replacement of the California based GZ-19 with a GZ-20 (Columbia N3A), adding a third airship to the fleet (GZ-20 America N10A) and constructing a new airship base at Spring, Texas as home to the new blimp.
In 1972, a third GZ-20 was built, to be the first Goodyear Blimp stationed outside the United States. Christened Europa N2A, her structural elements were freighted from the Goodyear factory in Akron Ohio to the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Cardington, Bedfordshire, England, on an Aero Spacelines Mini Guppy to be erected there but based at a new facility near Rome.
In 1978, the GZ-19 class was discontinued after the loss of Mayflower N38A. It was replaced by the GZ-20 Mayflower N3A.
As of 2008, the GZ-20 (in its GZ-20A variant) is still the current Goodyear Blimp design, with the most recent example, Spirit of Innovation, flown in 2006.
Goodyear Airship Operations has officially planned to start production of Zeppelin NT semi-rigid airships beginning in 2013. The cost will be 21 million per airship. Which means the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company will retire the GZ-20. The Goodyear Zeppelin is expected to take flight in 2014.
General characteristics
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