Collections & Exhibits

U. S. Navy WWII Goodyear Blimp Car ZNPK-28

The only known example of an original WWII Navy Blimp car in the world is currently undergoing restoration at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT.

Built by Goodyear in Akron, Ohio, delivered to the Navy at Lakehurst, N. J. in December, 1942, it was assigned to Blimp Squadron ZP-14. It is number 28 of the 134 ZNPK type which were built during WWII.

These “King” ships were used for anti-submarine warfare against enemy U-Boats along the eastern and western coastal waters of the U. S., as well as along the South American coast, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and late in the war as far away as the Mediterranean Sea. Among its many duties, in addition to convoy protection, were patrol, search and rescue, mine sweeping, and photography.

Following the end of WWII, K-28 was one of a very few that was saved from the scrap heap when it was purchased by Goodyear in July 1946 for commercial advertising purposes. After undergoing extensive “lightening” modifications, to save weight and reduce operating cost, it was fitted out with the first “Trans-Lux” experimental running copy type night sign boards on each side of the envelope.

Taken out of service once again in April 1948, it remained in storage in Ohio until donated to the Bradley Air Museum (now the New England Air Museum) in August 1980.

Restoration began in May 1993, and it was found to present many problems, including the removal of years of grease and oil from the interior, many coats of flaking Navy and Goodyear exterior paint, replacement of the entire 42 foot balsa wood sandwich type flooring, all windows and all fabric panels.

Approximately 90% of all the original equipment was missing, and has since been, or is now being, remanufactured from scratch. The radio operator’s position, with equipment, the auxiliary power unit, the navigator’s position, the auxiliary power unit, two wall-mounted bunks, pilot elevator wheel, co-pilot rudder wheel, and interior sliding door, have been completed.

All seats are ready to be upholstered and attached to the floor. Drawings are being made for the manufacture of the .50 caliber machine gun mount.

Completed and awaiting installation are the main pilot instrument panel and two smaller vertical instrument panels.

Both Pratt and Whitney R-1340 radial engines have been obtained, restored, and mounted on the port and starboard outriggers, as well as the two 3-bladed propellers. The cowling covers are currently being formed.

Blimp Car Restoration Update September 2008

• Shackles and sway braces have been completed and installed for external bomb mountings, port and starboard
• Nacelle cover panels aft of the engines are approximately 75% complete, port and starboard
• Bomb release mechanism assemblies (2 sets) with arming and release levers have been completed
• full size mock-up of 50 cal. machine gun turret has been built-up to facilitate forming of plexi-glass outer surfaces
• Red propeller warning stripes have been applied, port and starboard
• Construction of crew toilet is nearing completion
• Aluminum stool for navigator position has been started
• Installation of all three completed instrument panels is awaiting the painting of forward interior cockpit area
• Dynamotors for radio equipment have been obtained and are awaiting info on proper locations prior to installation
• Hard wiring of all radio gear is awaiting diagrams before continuing

Our restoration crew works every Tuesday and Thursday, and in the 14 plus years has accrued approximately 15,000 man hours on the project.

The Blimp car is on display in the civilian hangar, and may be viewed during normal museum hours.