The Goodyear Blimp returned to the skies of Kent, England, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, after a four-year absence.
It took off from Calais and traveled over Dover and Canterbury.
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The 246-foot airship, filled with 297,527 cubic feet of helium, is beginning a tour of multiple flights across the country.
It typically flies between 1,000 and 1,500 feet at a top speed of 73 miles per hour.
Oshkosh Appearance Announced
The Experimental Aircraft Association announced that the Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot One will return to the annual EAA AirVenture fly-in convention.
The event takes place at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from July 20-26, with the blimp arriving on Thursday, July 23.
The 2026 appearance marks 55 years since the Goodyear Blimp America debuted at the event in 1971.
In 2025, Goodyear brought two airships to celebrate a century of its first branded blimp, Pilgrim.
"The Goodyear Blimp is unmatched in both its pedigree and in the excitement that it generates among attendees arriving to AirVenture," said Rick Larsen, vice president of communities and member programs for EAA.
"Whether soaring through the sky or parked at Pioneer Airport, it is one of the first things visitors see when they arrive."
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Larsen coordinates the features and attractions for AirVenture. He noted that the company's long-standing presence highlights the prestige of the annual gathering.
"Goodyear has been a fixture at the event over the past 50-plus years, and its presence in 2026 proves EAA AirVenture is a truly 'blimp-worthy' event," said Larsen.
