Goodyear Zeppelin NT "Wingfoot One" 1:200 ABS Plastic Airship by Herpa

If the history of airships begins with the balloon of the Montgolfier brothers in 1782, it really took off only at the very end of the 19th century under the impetus of Giffard, Santos-Dumont and von Zeppelin. From then on, it was a race for the power and the size of the airships. The Goodyear company started racing in 1911, first alone and then in collaboration with Zeppelin. It quickly distinguished itself by its sense of marketing. In 1930, the Goodyear Blimp was the world's first airship to carry a light panel. Until the 1970s it made numerous appearances in the cinema, on television and especially during major sporting events, such as the Super Bowl or Nascar races. In 1973, it made its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it very quickly became an integral part of the decor. After a hiatus of a few years, it returns in its current form in 2020