GZ-22 GONDOLA
ARRIVAL - PHOTO OF THE MONTH
One year after we were offered the Goodyear GZ-22 gondola from the Spirit of Akron, and after months of preparation, restoration work, and planning, we’re happy to announce the one-of-a-kind gondola has safely arrived at MAPS! To get ready for the move, a team of MAPS members, under the guidance of Don Block (who also served as the project manager for the Spirit of Akron’s
construction from 1983 to 1987) has been spending their Wednesdays up at Wingfoot Lake for the past six months doing initial restoration and repair of the gondola.The Elbert Building Company of Elyria donated the truck and trailer needed to move the 36’ long, 10,000 pound gondola to MAPS. Many thanks to the Elbert Building Company, and owner Lorney Elbert, for their great assistance in bringing this piece of Akron’s aviation history to MAPS. Thank you to the City of Green for helping plan and approve the route needed to move the gondola. Thanks goes out to Goodyear for saving, and sharing, this piece of aviation history. But most of all, thank you to our volunteers, who drove this project and made it all happen.
