Tag Archives: airplanes

Goodyear Blimp Returns!

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Goodyear Blimp returns for appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021

Will be at Oshkosh for much of AirVenture week

EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — (June 2, 2021) — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s blimp, Wingfoot Three, will continue a long tradition of Oshkosh Goodyear appearances with a visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” which is July 26-August 1 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

Goodyear’s Wingfoot Three is scheduled to arrive in Oshkosh on Monday, July 26, and will be on display and be flying at various times during the event until Saturday, July 31. At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, Wingfoot Three pilots will also participate at a variety of events, as AirVenture is one of the few air shows on the Goodyear Blimp schedule this year.

“Through the years, there’s a special excitement when attendees arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and one of the first sights they see is the iconic Goodyear Blimp parked on the grounds or in the air overhead,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Goodyear has been an important AirVenture exhibitor for many years and it’s always a great to see that Oshkosh has made the ‘Blimp-Worthy’ list of America’s major events.”

Wingfoot Three is the newest addition to the Goodyear Blimp fleet, as it was first flown in June 2018. It marked the completion of the full fleet to the New Technology (NT) platform. The blimp was manufactured by Germany’s ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik and assembled by a team of Zeppelin and Goodyear engineers. It represented the first major structural change of a Goodyear Blimp in nearly 70 years.

The Wingfoot Three appearance continues a 50-year tradition of Goodyear Blimp appearances at EAA’s fly-in convention. The first Goodyear Blimp appearance at the EAA fly-in was in 1971, when the airship “America” came to Oshkosh. Several generations of Goodyear Blimps have flown to and over EAA fly-ins since then.

Goodyear Aviation will also continue its participation as an EAA AirVenture exhibitor in 2021 in the Main Aircraft Display area, exhibit #489.

Goodyear’s aerial coverage of marquee events in 2021 has already included the numerous NASCAR, PGA, and NBA events. The Goodyear Blimp has been honored with induction as an honorary member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the first non-player or coach to be inducted. More information is available at GoodyearBlimp.com.

 

Sun N Fun 21

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I attended #SNF21 and had a great time.  I gave 13 seminars while I was there and they were very well attended. Way better than I expected.

As far as the vendors, I was very pleased to see a lot of aircraft manufacturers supporting the show and the aviation industry.

I did walk through the building and while vendors numbers were lower than before, I was very surprise at the number of people and vendors.

Interestingly, a few vendors opted for what I would say was big “Billboard” instead of a “manned” booth. Personably, I didn’t stop and look at the billboard or the videos they were playing. I am guessing neither did many of the other attendees.  Probably should have had a real person in the booth, just saying.

Anyway, here are a few of the pictures I took.

 

F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team

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F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team

For Immediate Release
February 26th, 2021

Lakeland, Florida: The 2021 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is excited to welcome home U.S. Air Force Major Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson as he joins an exclusive airshow lineup as the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team pilot and commander.

F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team

Graduating from Bloomingdale High School in Valrico in 2004, Gunderson received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy at age 17 and graduated in 2008. He dreamed of being in the seat of a fighter jet after seeing them perform at SUN ‘n FUN and other airshows he attended near his Central Florida hometown.

Gunderson is looking forward to the homecoming and said, “I am extremely excited about returning to my home state of Florida and flying at SUN ‘n FUN. I attended many SUN ‘n FUN events as a kid and loved seeing the military jets, so it’s an honor to pay that forward to future aviators.”

F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team
The F22 Raptor provides the USAF with a lethal combination of stealth, maneuverability, weaponry, and surveillance capabilities that make it unmatched by any other fighter, current or projected.

“We are very pleased to welcome Cabo and his team to Lakeland,” said Greg Gibson, Airshow Director and CMO for SUN ‘n FUN. “The Raptor is one of my personal favorites. The incredible maneuverability and its ability to demonstrate such agility and power while literally disappearing from the enemy in combat is truly amazing. I hope everyone will come join us to see what I mean when they see it perform in person!”

The F22 Raptor Demonstration Team is based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, VA, and consists of 19 elite members that includes the pilot, safety officer, superintendent, team chief, multiple crew chiefs, avionics specialists, public affairs and aircrew flight equipment technicians. Together, the team visits local schools, hospitals, and participates
in various community events in addition to performing aerial demonstrations. The team is responsible for representing Air Combat Command, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America at more than 20 air shows annually.

Fans can see “Cabo” put the Raptor though its incredible demonstration profile April 16, 17, and 18 at SUN ‘n FUN, and he will perform in two presentations with the aircraft daily. First, he will give an incredible high-performance display of jaw-dropping speed, precision and maneuverability, followed by the patriotic Heritage Flight, where the Raptor will be joined by a vintage P-51 Mustang in a moving formation tribute flight to honor our nation’s aviation heroes from all eras. SUN n’ FUN is honored to welcome Maj. Gunderson home to celebrate the past, present, and future of aviation.

The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is April 13th-18th. Come join the excitement and watch in awe as Maj. Gunderson joins the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and dozens of other performers in daily airshows, as well as hundreds of aircraft displays and outdoor exhibits in this historic return of one of the Bay Area’s mainstays in family entertainment.