S1 E11 - Taylor Deen, Blimp Pilot

S1 E11 - Taylor Deen, Blimp Pilot

Author: Women in Aviation International October 29, 2025 Duration: 29:47

Meet Taylor Deen, one of the few female Goodyear blimp pilots in the world.


Taylor Deen is one of the few active female blimp pilots in the world. At 37 years old, she has achieved the role of chief pilot with the Goodyear Blimp, logging more than 2,500 hours of lighter-than-air (LTA) flight hours and 3,000 fixed-wing hours. She earned her pilot license in 2005 and continued training to become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) with CFI-Instrumentation training. Taylor joined the California-based Goodyear blimp team in 2011 after flying as a charter pilot in Juneau, Alaska. She is currently a captain for the Goodyear Blimp Wingfoot Three and leads its Carson-based crew.


As a pilot for the world-renowned aerial brand ambassador for over a decade, Taylor has flown the blimp through more than 20 U.S. states as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia. She has captained flights over notable sports and entertainment events, including multiple NBA Finals, Academy Awards, and Golden Globes red carpets, PGA Tour events, and Rose Bowls. When not flying for transit or television, she has shared the blimp ride experience with hundreds of fortunate passengers, from tire dealers to philanthropists to celebrities. Taylor’s most memorable flights have included flying her grandparents in her home state of Oregon during a transit stop on the way to Tacoma, Washington for the U.S. Open of golf (2015) and two rare formation flights, including a two-blimp tandem flight over NASCAR’s Daytona 500 with retired GZ-20 models Spirit of Innovation and Spirit of Goodyear in Florida (2014) followed by an old-meets-new blimp dual maneuver with new technology airship Wingfoot One and the last GZ-20 model Spirit of Innovation (2015). As Goodyear transitioned its blimp fleet to the new, state-of-the-art “Wingfoot” airships, Taylor was proudly among the four Goodyear pilots who were the last in the world to fly the GZ-20 model blimp into its retirement (2017).


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There's a whole world above the clouds, and the voices shaping it are more diverse than ever. The WAI On Air Podcast, from Women in Aviation International, opens the hangar doors and the boardroom doors to the people making it happen. This isn't just about the roar of engines; it's about the conversations, the problem-solving, and the personal journeys that define modern flight. You'll hear directly from pilots navigating long-haul routes, engineers designing the next generation of aircraft, and air traffic controllers managing the complex ballet of the skies. The podcast also features insights from aerospace executives and the innovators pushing technology forward. Each episode is a candid look at the challenges and triumphs experienced by women, and their allies, across every specialty. Tune in for authentic stories that go beyond the resume, offering a genuine sense of the community and the passion that fuels this dynamic industry. Whether you're a seasoned aviation professional or simply fascinated by flight, this series connects you to the human element that keeps our world moving.
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