# Episode 104 - What it Takes to Fly The Blimp: with Goodyear Chief Pilot Jerry Hissem Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/flying-midwest-podcast-4633448/episode-104-what-it-takes-to-fly-the-blimp-with-goodyear-chief-pilot-jerry-hissem Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/flying-midwest-podcast-4633448/episode-104-what-it-takes-to-fly-the-blimp-with-goodyear-chief-pilot-jerry-hissem.md Podcast: [Flying Midwest Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/flying-midwest-podcast-4633448) Published: 2026-01-19T04:54:10+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/flyingmidwest-podcast/episodes/Episode-104---What-it-Takes-to-Fly-The-Blimp-with-Goodyear-Chief-Pilot-Jerry-Hissem-e3drqub Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/79e21e94/podcast/play/114207115/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-0-19%2F818545a8-c6f7-bc45-46af-4dceef9e5a37.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/flying-midwest-podcast-4633448/episodes/episode-104-what-it-takes-to-fly-the-blimp-with-goodyear-chief-pilot-jerry-hissem Duration seconds: 3029 ## Resource For more than a century, the Goodyear Blimp has been one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world—quietly floating over sporting events, cities, and historic moments in aviation history. But what’s it really like to fly an airship? In this episode, we sit down with Jerry Hissem, Chief Pilot for the Goodyear Blimp , for a deep dive into the world of modern airships as Goodyear celebrates 100 years of blimp operations . Jerry shares what makes flying a blimp unlike any other form of aviation, how today’s airships differ from the classics of the past, and what it actually takes to earn your Goodyear Blimp pilot wings . We explore: The history of the Goodyear Blimp and how it evolved over the last 100 years What it’s really like to fly an airship —from handling and performance to day-to-day operations The unique training and experience required to become a Goodyear Blimp pilot How modern Goodyear airships blend heritage with advanced technology Why blimps continue to play a unique role in aviation today Whether you’re an aviation history fan, a pilot curious about unconventional aircraft, or just fascinated by one of aviation’s most iconic symbols, this episode offers rare insight from someone who flies the blimp for a living. Get Your Cold Weather Merch Today! Winter is coming, and so is our brand-new merch lineup! Stay warm and rep your love for aviation with cozy long sleeve tees, hoodies, and beanies. Gear up now and head into the season in style! Our Other Content: Badger Pilot on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@thebadgerpilot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AeroExploration: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AeroExploration Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/flying-midwest-podcast-4633448/episodes/episode-104-what-it-takes-to-fly-the-blimp-with-goodyear-chief-pilot-jerry-hissem/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/flying-midwest-podcast-4633448/episode-104-what-it-takes-to-fly-the-blimp-with-goodyear-chief-pilot-jerry-hissem.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.