Putting the Goodyear Blimp to Bed

The Goodyear Blimp, Spirit of Innovation, arrived yesterday in Humboldt County (a day late but better late than never!!) She is massive–192 feet long, about 60 feet high, and the gondola is 23 feet long. It fits two pilots and six passengers.

Our reporters–Bobby Kroeker, Oliver Cory, and Nena Huitt–had the wonderful opportunity to be right beside the Chief Rigger Tony Sanico as it moored to its mast at the California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport. He has worked with the Goodyear Blimp 30 years!!

Sanico explained to us how the Goodyear Blimp lands and all that is involved with mooring it to the mast. He said that they were about 550 lbs light yesterday so they would have to add weight bags after it lands and “add” personnel to the Gondola as it landed. Once moored, 50 lb bags would be added outside the blimp to keep her from floating away. It took 12 ground crew yesterday to “walk” the Blimp to the mooring post.

This top video shows the first of two attempt’s to land yesterday.

This second video is the second (and successful mooring) of the Goodyear Blimp.  Sanico explains step by step the physics and science of the mooring of the Blimp. He then explains the ground crews’ jobs as they moor the blimp.

The final video is when Sanico has to go to work!! He climbs up the mast to attach the Goodyear Blimp to the mast. The top of the mast has a small connection to attach the blimp. The connection pivots 360 degrees so the blimp can “blow in the wind” so to speak while attached to the mast overnight.

The Goodyear Blimp will return to Humboldt July 15-16, 2016 for Customer Appreciation Event. Sanico will not be here unfortunately as he will be on holidays. However, we will be there!

 

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LeAnna Carson-Hansen
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LeAnna Carson-Hansen
7 years ago

Cool information on the operations of the blimp ! Thank you very much.

Mogtx
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7 years ago

Thank u kym for the great story u rock .kym kemp .

Deluth lautrec
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Deluth lautrec
7 years ago

“I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a blimp ride today”.

Hamburgy