Goodyear Blimp Spotted Across London
If there is one thing that has been the talk of London recently—apart from the heatwave—it is the Goodyear Blimp. The giant airship has been meandering over the capital since the beginning of July, drawing eyes skyward across the city.
The blimp has been spotted over all corners of Greater London, hovering above attractions such as The Shard and Tower Bridge, as well as more prosaic landmarks like the M25 and Lakeside Shopping Centre. The airship arrived in London last week after flying over the English Channel from Calais Dunkerque Airport.
Tour Details and History
The Goodyear Blimp is currently on a two-week tour that ends on July 14. Its base for the “holiday” is Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster, east London. Measuring over 75 metres in length and almost 18 metres in height, the blimp first graced British skies in June 1972, flying over Cardington, England. Since then, it has appeared at a host of major cultural milestones, including Charles and Diana’s royal wedding in 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, the 2011 wedding of William and Kate, the 1980 FA Cup Final, and the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in 1985.
Ben Crawley, Sales General Manager Consumer Replacement Northern Europe, said: “The Goodyear Blimp is a recognisable icon worldwide and we’re thrilled to see it return to the UK this summer. For over 100 years it has been an iconic presence at cultural and sporting events and we’re eagerly anticipating its first flight in the UK since 2022.”
How to Track the Goodyear Blimp
You can follow the blimp’s flight path on the free Flightradar24 app or website at flightradar24.com. To home in on the airship, enter the registration code D-LZFN. Click on “live flights” and then “route” to see a close-up map revealing the blimp’s flight path and its real-time location. As well as flying over London, the blimp is expected to make an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, which runs until Sunday, July 12.
