Goodyear Chooses Lycoming-Powered Zeppelin

Photo: Chris Schotanus

Ohio-based tire manufacturer Goodyear announced last month that it will team up with Germany's ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik to build three new airships beginning in 2013. Every Zeppelin has three Lycoming IO-360 engines.

The airships will replace the three Goodyear "blimps" that currently provide aerial coverage and promotions for large spectator events all over the United States. The first Goodyear Zeppelin is scheduled to go into service in 2014.

The Zeppelin is an airship manufactured in Friedrichshafen, Germany, also home to Europe's largest general aviation event, Aero Friedrichshafen. The Zeppelin's IO-360 engines are mounted at the internal framework. The two front engines can be tilted up to 120 degrees, the rear engine up to 90 degrees. This enables vertical take-offs and landings, hovering and rotating on the spot. The aft engine operates additionally as a lateral propeller that facilitates the high maneuverability of the Zeppelin.

Some people say the Zeppelin NT is a "lighter-than-air" aircraft, but that’s only true part of the time. At take-off the Zeppelin has a static weight of 772 pounds. Only after a long flight, when the Zeppelin has consumed a considerable portion of its fuel does it then become lighter than air. In optimal weather conditions, the Zeppelin has a maximum speed of 78 miles per hour, a maximum altitude of 8,530 feet, a maximum flight duration of 24 hours and a 485 nautical mile range.

Up to 12 passengers can fly in the Zeppelin NT, which is the first airship in the world to receive certification for commercial passenger operations. Michael Kraft, Lycoming senior vice president and general manager, was a lucky passenger in April 2010.