Doug, upon very close examination, it appears as if the airship that you captured in this image was none other than Goodyear's one-of-a-kind "Spirit of Akron", N4A. The "Akron" was an experimental, fly-by-wire, turboprop-powered ship that was built as a technology demonstrator for the pursuit of potential military contracts....and to compete with the high-tech British Skyship 500/600s that were advertising (at the time) for Met Life and other companies. The "Akron" lasted for 10 years, before being involved in an accident due to mechanical failure (only minor injuries.). Alas today, all of the REAL Goodyear Blimps are gone. The company is now flying a couple of semi-rigid airships called Zeppelin-NTs. Funny, the company that spent 90+ years explaining to the public that a rigid airship like the Hindenburg is not a blimp.....is now calling their semi-rigid craft a "Goodyear Blimp." LOL!
|
|