Twelve ZPG-2 airships were built by Goodyear. The ZPG-2 (1), a 975,000 cubic foot airship, piloted by CDR M. Henry Eppes in May 1954, demonstrated its endurance in an unrefueled flight of 200.2 hours. On August 9, 1958 ZPG-2(4) departed Boston on a research mission commanded by CAPT H. B. Van Gorder. About the time the airship crossed the Arctic Circle a "sitrep" position report was required by the Chief of Naval Operations. CAPT Van Gorder reported this first crossing of the Arctic Circle by a U. S. Airship was witnessed by a "polar bear." ZPG-2 (11), nicknamed "Snowbird," piloted by CDR Jack R. Hunt with CDR Ronald W. Hoel, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Development Unit, South Weymouth, Massachusetts as senior officer aboard, flew a 264.2 hour (11 Days) without refueling across the Atlantic to tip of Portugal, Canary and Cape Verde Islands, off Africa, back across the Atlantic to Puerto Rico, and landed at Key West Florida.

ZPG-2 was modified to accommodate Airborne Early Warning (AEW) electronics. A large radar dome was located on the top of the envelope for a height finding radar and another radar antenna was installed in a dome below the control car. Five ZPG-2W airships were constructed by Goodyear.

The ZPG-3W , a 1,465,000 cubic foot airship, with a primary mission to conduct all-weather AEW patrols of long endurance, was the largest non-rigid airship ever built. This 403 foot airship had its huge search radar antenna suspended internally from the top of the envelope, rotating within the helium chamber. Its height finding antenna was mounted on top of the envelope. The last ZPG-3W of the four built was flown in 1961.