| Goodyear Blimp Draws Rave Reviews From Students, Others |
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| David Grimes | |
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Wow, neat, cool, and awesome…Those were the words you heard the most out of the area youngsters that got a close-up look at the Goodyear Blimp Monday at the New River Valley Airport in Dublin. The “Spirit of Goodyear” is in the NRV to help Thompson Tire Company celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Students from various schools from throughout the New River Valley got a chance to view the 192-foot blimp Monday and another large group of students are expected to see the blimp today.
“We had a large group of youngsters here today and the bulk of them will be here on Tuesday,” said Fran Boyd, president of Thompson Tire Company. “I’m still having schools and organizations calling me and wanting to know if they could come and tour the blimp.”
The “Spirit of Goodyear,” which is one of the four blimps operated by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, will be tethered at NRV Airport till Wednesday morning to help Thompson Tire Company celebrate its 40th anniversary.
“Having the blimp here is just a small way to give something back to the communities who have supported us for the past 40 years,” added Boyd.
Newbern Elementary School Principal Joseph Reed probably had the best time of anyone there Monday afternoon.
The very likeable principal climbed into the pilot’s seat, lifted up the window, waved to his students and said, “Goodbye, I’m leaving.”
One of his students replied, “I want your job if you’re leaving.”
Today is the last day the public can view the blimp at the airport. A viewing area has been set up and the blimp will be on the ground from 8 a.m to 3 p.m.
The “Spirit of Goodyear”, which based in Akron, Ohio, will also be making solo flights throughout the New River Valley between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. and will be using its EagleVision sign to send messages to the communities they are flying over. Some of the communities the blimp will fly over include Pulaski, Radford, Blacksburg and Christiansburg, as well as a few more.
Thompson Tire Company, which started in Christiansburg in 1968, now has locations in Radford, Pulaski, Rocky Mount and Wytheville.
Click here to see more photos of the Goodyear Blimp’s visit to the NRV in our photo gallery.
Photos by David Grimes
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