The Blimp

For nearly 80 years, airships like the Goodyear blimp have adorned the skies as very visible corporate symbols and highly effective advertising tools. The tradition began in 1925 when the tire and rubber company painted its name on the side of its first helium-filled public relations airship, the 'Pilgrim,' and began barnstorming the United States. Five years later, the Goodyear blimp Defender became the first airship in the world to carry a lighted sign for after-dark displays. Since then, other corporations (most notably Met Life, Fuji and Budweiser) have emblazoned their logos on these graceful giants that annually travel more than 100,000 miles across the country and are known for their ubiquitous presence at major sporting events.