Goodyear Blimp flies over Kingston, Ont. to celebrate 100th year

The Goodyear Blimp taking off in Kingston, Ont. June 17, 2025. (Jack Richardson/CTV News Ottawa).

The Goodyear Blimp is flying over Kingston, Ont. Tuesday as the company celebrates the airship’s 100th anniversary.

It made the journey from Akron, Ohio with a pit stop in Watertown, N.Y. before arriving in Kingston on Monday.

“It’s one of three airships that are in North America for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company,” said Jerry Hissem, the blimp’s chief pilot.

The nearly 75-metre-long blimp is taking groups of employees that work at the Goodyear Tire plant in Napanee for rides throughout the day.

“It’s exciting for us as well,” said Hissem. “We like to take our associates up for a flight for all the great (work) they do for the company.”

Kylie Hinch has worked at the plant for 26 years and says the trip on the blimp was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Going up in the blimp was unbelievable,” Hinch said. “To actually be on it is something you could never imagine.”

Hinch explains that the views of Kingston and Lake Ontario from inside the blimp were unforgettable.

The blimp is taking 10 trips total on Tuesday, according to Hissem.

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