1930 Goodyear Airship Services “AA” at the Florence Avenue plant, Los Angeles. In keeping with Goodyear’s promotion of blimps as “yachts of the skies,” “Pilgrim” and “Volunteer” were named after America’s Cup contenders. “Pilgrim” was Goodyear’s first civilian blimp. Launched in 1925 and refitted in 1929, she retired December 30, 1931. The Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum preserves her gondola. “Volunteer,” launched in 1929, flew on through the 30’s. Two items of particular interest to the “A” community: (1) Check out the “high points judging” Goodyear flag logo on “Pilgrim.” (2) Note the lack of tire on the sixth rim. One wonders whether the fleet purchase deal hinged on the number of tires Goodyear had to purchase from Ford at retail. I suspect that Goodyear rushed this vehicle into the field upon delivery for promo photos with its airships before mounting a sixth tire “from stock” and later decided “We’ll not use that right hand view.”
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