BEAUMONT, Texas — The iconic Goodyear Blimp made a rare stop in Beaumont this week, soaring over downtown and drawing in crowds eager to snap photos of the aircraft.

12News got a look inside the blimp Monday and spoke with the pilots about why they chose to make a pit stop in Southeast Texas.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Goodyear’s airships, and one of only three blimps still in operation flew into Beaumont after a long trip across the country.

“There's a lot of history behind this. Everyone's really excited when they get to see it,” Assistant Chief Pilot Ryan Clark said.

The 246-foot-long blimp had just come from Austin, where it covered a football game after departing from its base in Pompano Beach, Florida.

“This trip actually started in Pompano Beach, Florida, which i

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