Iconic airship to soar over south coast on final leg of UK tour
It's the first time in 10 years that the Goodyear Blimp has been in British skies
Last updated 1st Jul 2021
An iconic airship will travel along the south coast on Thursday for the final leg of its UK tour.
The Goodyear blimp has been in British skies for the first time in 10 years with people across the country sharing images and memories of the airship.
The airship is known throughout the world for its aerial coverage of the most-watched events in sports and entertainment, ranging from FA Cup Finals to Live Aid.
The blimp will arrive over Hastings from Calais. Its flightpath will take it over Eastbourne, Brighton, Worthing, Portsmouth and Southampton, before heading inland over Winchester, Horsham, Royal Tunbridge Wells and finally Dover.
Flight timings
Brighton 12:40
Worthing 12:50
Portsmouth 13:50
Southampton 14:20
Winchester 14:35
Horsham 15:30
Goodyear blimp facts
Length
The Goodyear blimp is 246 feet long.
Envelope Size
The airship’s envelope is packed with 297,527 cubic feet of helium. Its capacity could hold the equivalent of 207 million golf balls or 3.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Altitude
The Goodyear blimp typically flies between 1,000 to 1,500 feet, meaning it can reach altitudes more than three times the height of the London Eye.
Speed
The Goodyear blimp has a top speed of 73 miles per hour. The Goodyear Blimp has a top speed of 73 miles per hour.
Airship Structure
The Goodyear blimp sports a semi-rigid skeleton composed of aluminum and carbon fibre trusses that hold three vectored engines.
These advancements result in more precise operation and maneuverability of the airship, allowing it to hover in place and take off and land like a helicopter.
The gondola (passenger car) of the Goodyear blimp seats up to 12 passengers and boasts unparalleled panoramic views with larger, wrap-around windows.