Nathan Brooks has become the newest blimp pilot for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. following his check flight at the company’s Airship Operations facility in Carson, California.
Brooks, 29, joins Pilot-in-Charge Jon Conrad, Assistant Pilot-in-Charge Matthew St. John and Senior Pilot Kristen Davis as pilots for the California-based “Spirit of America” airship.
According to Goodyear, there are fewer blimp pilots than there are astronauts, so Brooks joins an elite group. Goodyear, which now has 12 blimp pilots, operates three airships, the “Spirit of America” in Carson, the “Spirit of Goodyear” in Akron, Ohio, and the “Spirit of Innovation” in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Brooks grew up in Framingham, Mass. While still in high school, he joined the National Guard. Following graduation, Brooks attended Framingham State College, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2003, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and a concentration in Environmental Studies.
Goodyear blimps are used to promote Goodyear’s business, support customers, help charities and provide the best aerial views of major television events. The tiremaker’s blimp tradition began in 1925 when it built its first airship, the “Pilgrim.”
For more information: GoodyearBlimp.com.
