This football season, Goodyear's three blimps are set to hover over eight college football bowls, including Atlanta's Chick-fil-A Bowl, Florida's Orange Bowl, California's Rose Bowl, Arizona's Fiesta Bowl, Louisiana's Sugar Bowl and the National Championship on January 6 in Pasadena, California.
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The power of looking up —
Goodyear began operating its own blimps in 1919. Now, an estimated 60 million Americans get a first-hand look at the company's airships every year.
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Eaglevision —
Dazzling computer-controlled signage called Eaglevision is visible up to a mile away, according to Goodyear.
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'Slow and low' —
The blimps fly at a maximum of about 53 mph but typically cruise at around 35 mph. Spirit of Innovation Capt. Matt Lussier says he likes moving "slow and low" because it allows him to appreciate the view. "When I fly over the beach, I can see sea turtles and sting rays and manatees. It's cool. It really is."
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Landing —
When landing a blimp, Lussier says, "you point the nose of the aircraft down and use power to get to the airfield." Then ground crew members grab the blimp's rope lines and tether the airship to a mast.
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Budweiser's 'Designate a Driver' blimp —
In 2013, Budweiser used a 130-foot-long American Blimp model A -60 Plus to promote its designated driver campaign.
courtesy budweiser
The MetLife blimp —
MetLife has been touring sporting events with its A-60 Plus model blimps since 1987. Its fleet includes "Snoopy One," Snoopy Two" and "Snoopy J."
