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List of current airships in the United States facts for kids

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Goodyear-blimp
The Spirit of Goodyear, one of the famous Goodyear Blimps

Have you ever seen a giant balloon floating slowly across the sky, often with a company's name on it? Those are called airships or blimps! They are like huge, lighter-than-air aircraft that can stay in the sky for a long time. This article lists the airships that are currently registered to fly in the United States by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In 2021, a magazine called Reader's Digest mentioned that there are probably around 25 blimps left in the world. About half of these are still used for advertising. One company, Airsign Airship Group, owns and operates 8 of these active airships, including well-known ones like the Hood Blimp and the MetLife blimp.

Goodyear's Flying Giants

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, based in Akron, Ohio, is famous for its airships. For many years, they used a type of blimp called the GZ-20A. Now, they mostly use a newer, more advanced type of airship called a Zeppelin. These Zeppelins are larger and more like a rigid airship, meaning they have a strong frame inside.

Here are some of the airships registered to Goodyear:

N-Number Year built Make Model Name
1A 2014 ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik LZ NO7-101 Wingfoot One
2A 2016 ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik LZ NO7-101 Wingfoot Two
3A 2018 ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik LZ NO7-101 Wingfoot Three
4A 1983 Goodyear GZ-20A Spirit of Innovation (retired)
10A 1979 Goodyear GZ-20A Spirit of America (retired)

AirSign Airships: Advertising in the Sky

AirSign Airships, located in Williston, Florida, is a big owner and operator of blimps used for advertising. You might have seen their blimps promoting different brands at sports events or concerts. They use several models of blimps made by the American Blimp Corporation.

Here are some of the airships registered to AirSign Airships:

N-Number Year built Make Model
612LG 1996 American Blimp Corporation A-60+
460LG American Blimp Corporation A-60+
618LG 2000 American Blimp Corporation A60R
620LG 2002 American Blimp Corporation A60R
151AB 1997 American Blimp Corporation A-1-70
154ZP 1999 American Blimp Corporation A-1-70
156LG 2000 American Blimp Corporation A-1-70
105VW American Blimp Corporation A-1-70
157LG American Blimp Corporation A-1-70G

Icarus Aircraft: Flying for Fun and More

Icarus Aircraft, based in Palm City, Florida, also has several airships registered. These airships might be used for various purposes, including leisure flights, research, or even special events.

Here are some airships registered to Icarus Aircraft:

N-Number Year built Make Model
607LG 1998 American Blimp Corporation A-60+
760AB 1993 American Blimp Corporation A-60+
2012P 1989 American Blimp Corporation A-60+

SCEYE Inc.: High-Tech Airships

SCEYE Inc., located in Moriarty, New Mexico, is registered for a type of airship called SCEYE Airship. These airships are often designed for special high-altitude missions, like collecting data or providing communication services.

Here are some airships registered to SCEYE Inc.:

N-Number Serial Number
603SC SSV 70.1
604SC SSV 70.2
605SC SSV 70.3
608SC TV-17

Other Interesting Airships

Besides the main companies, there are other airships registered to different owners across the United States. Some of these might be older models, or perhaps used for unique projects. For example, some airships are being developed for humanitarian aid or to carry large amounts of cargo.

Here are some other airships from the registry:

N-Number Year built Make Model Owner/Operator City ST
610SK 1985 Westinghouse Airships Inc Skyship 600 Delaware Trust Co Wilmington DE
81683 1983 Thunder & Colt AS 105 Aeronautical Adventures Inc. Eagle ID
493JM 1987 Thunder & Colt AS-56 Ronald Miller Tucson AZ
111SY 2006 SY-1 Daniel Nachbar Amherst MA
315SW Skyway Air Transportation Manor TX
577MB 1988 MB-1 James Blalock Sheridan AR
601SK 1985 Airship Industries UK Ltd Airship 600 Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc Trustee Bungay Suffolk Great Britain
605SK Airship Industries UK Ltd Airship 600 Southern Aircraft Consultancy Inc Trustee Bungay Suffolk Great Britain
324UA LTA Galactic Inc 3X24M LTA Galactic Inc Akron OH
125LT LTA Research and Exploration LLC Pathfinder 1 LTA Research and Exploration LLC Sunnyvale CA
615LG American Blimp Corporation A60R LTA Research and Exploration LLC Sunnyvale CA
689DA Skyborne Technology Inc SA-70 Skyborne Technology Inc Wewahitchka FL
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