They are large. They are quiet. They make people stop in their tracks and look up. “They” of course are airships, and this year you can see Wingfoot One, Goodyear’s iconic blimp, in the sky over AirVenture Oshkosh.
The annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention is slated for July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH). The airship is scheduled to arrive Thursday, July 23.
“The Goodyear Blimp is unmatched in both its pedigree and in the excitement that it generates among attendees arriving to AirVenture. Whether soaring through the sky or parked at Pioneer Airport, it is one of the first things visitors see when they arrive,“ said Rick Larsen, vice president of communities and member programs for EAA, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “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.”
According to EAA, Wingfoot One plans to fly at various times throughout the week of AirVenture. The blimp made its first EAA appearance in 1971. Last year Goodyear brought two blimps, Wingfoot One and its very first branded blimp Pilgrim to Oshkosh. Pilgrim, launched in 1925, was Goodyear’s first owned and operated blimp and the very first to be filled with helium instead of the highly flammable hydrogen. Seeing two airships in the same place at once was a new kind of thrill for Oshkosh visitors, many of whom stopped to watch, take selfies, and cheer when the ships passed overhead.
This year Goodyear will also have an exhibitor display (booth #489 in the main aircraft display area) to showcase the company’s substantial aviation contributions. For more than a century Goodyear has been providing materials and engineering in tires for a variety of aircraft. Goodyear-branded merchandise will be available for purchase.
“AirVenture gives us an unmatched opportunity to engage with aviation enthusiasts on the world’s stage,” said Joe Burke, vice president of global aviation at Goodyear. “Whether they are seeing the Goodyear Blimp overhead or engaging with our aviation team on the ground, events like this allow us to bring our story to life, showcasing both the legacy of our iconic Blimp and the innovative aviation solutions that support pilots and operators every day.”
Goodyear introduced the first pneumatic tire for aircraft in 1909, just six years after the Wright brothers flew a heavier-than-air powered aircraft from Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina.
In addition to building tires for all forms of aircraft, Goodyear began building airships in 1917. The first order was a military contract for the United States Navy. During World War II the company made hundreds of blimps that were used by the Navy for submarine patrol off the coast of the U.S. In the postwar years Goodyear blimps became synonymous with televised sports as the blimp was used as a photo platform at sporting events.
