内容摘要：has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode U.S. credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.

has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode U.S. credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.

In 1930, the “Defender” blimp became the first airship in the world to carry a lit neon sign so the company’s name could be seen after dark.Goodyear began making airships for the U.S. Navy in 1917, and its first blimp — the first commercial non-rigid airship flown using helium — launched years later, becoming a marketing tool.

From 1942 to 1944, the company built more than 150 airships for the Navy to serve in World War II, flying patrol over warships on the seas with zero reported loss of ships when a blimp was on watch.The Goodyear Blimp has been a regular at major sporting events since flying above the 1955 Rose Bowl. A few years later, it became a service vehicle for television coverage while simultaneously functioning as a highly visible advertising platform.Since that time, blimps have undergone wholesale changes and improved dramatically: steering technology; safety innovations; high-definition cameras; aerial views captured with specialized systems that compensate for movement during filming, resulting in stable and smooth footage footage; and much quieter rides thanks to relocated engines and propellers.

There currently are four Goodyear Blimps — the three in the U.S. and one in Friedrichshafen, Germany.Today’s Goodyear Blimps are

meaning they have an internal frame as compared to previous eras of blimps that could be fully deflated. In 2014, Goodyear transitioned to the New Technology semi-rigid airship platform designed to allow for improved maneuverability and speed.

The Goodyear Blimp is 246 feet long (75 meters), which would cover about 80% of a football field. It is 58 feet (18 meters) high and holds three Olympic-sized swimming pools’ worth of helium.Calistoga resident and City Council member Lisa Gift poses for a portrait Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the community garden in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)

Calistoga resident and City Council member Lisa Gift poses for a portrait Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the community garden in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)“Continuing to depend on fossil fuels was simply not sustainable,” Gift said. “That’s what excited me about this. It’s a clean and reliable energy solution that ensures the safety and resilience of our community.”

Energy Vault, an energy storage company based in California, built the new facility that was to come online in early June. Next year, it could be exporting power to the electric grid whenever needed once its application to fully connect is approved.A worker walks through Energy Vault’s facility, a company that is creating an emergency power system that relies on hydrogen and battery storage, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Calistoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Terry Chea)