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The Goodyear Inflatoplane is an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, well known for the Goodyear blimp. Although it seemed an improbable project, the finished aircraft proved to be capable of meeting its design objectives, although orders were never forthcoming from the military. A total of 12 prototypes were built between 1956 and 1959, and testing continued until 1972, when the project was finally cancelled.

Design and development

The original concept of an all-fabric inflatable aircraft was based on Taylor McDaniel's inflatable rubber glider experiments in 1931. Designed and built in only 12&nbsp;weeks, the Goodyear Inflatoplane was built in 1956, with the idea that it could be used by the military as a rescue plane to be dropped in a hardened container behind enemy lines. The 44 cubic ft (1.25 cubic meter) container could also be transported by truck, jeep trailer or aircraft. The inflatable surface of this aircraft was actually a sandwich of two rubber-type materials connected by a mesh of nylon threads, forming an I-beam. When the nylon was exposed to air, it absorbed and repelled water as it stiffened, giving the aircraft its shape and rigidity. Structural integrity was retained in flight with forced air being continually circulated by the aircraft's motor. This continuous pressure supply enabled the aircraft to have a degree of puncture resilience, the testing of airmat showing that it could be punctured by up to six .30 calibre bullets and retain pressure.

thumb|Goodyear inflatoplane on display at the [[Smithsonian Institution]]

There were at least two versions:

The GA-468 was a single-seater. It took about five minutes to inflate to about ; at full size, it was long, with a wingspan. A pilot would then hand-start the two-stroke cycle, Only 12 Goodyear Inflatoplanes were built, but development continued until the project was cancelled in 1973.

Variants

;GA-33 Inflatoplane

:The initial single-seat version, with open cockpit, based on the Taylor McDaniel inflatable rubber glider experiments from the early 1930s. One built.

;GA-447 Inflatoplane

:An enclosed cockpit and new wing, used for undercarriage experiments (tricycle, uniwheel, and hydroskid). One built.

;GA-466 Inflatoplane

:Company designation for the AO-2 Inflatoplane

;GA-468 Inflatoplane

:Company designation for the AO-3 Inflatoplane

;XAO-2-GI Inflatoplane

:Military designation for the GA-466. One built.

;XAO-3-GI Inflatoplane

:Military designation for the GA-468. Five built.

Surviving aircraft

Goodyear donated two Inflatoplanes for museum display at the end of the project, one to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and one to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Another is on display at the Stonehenge Air Museum in Fortine, Montana. A fourth is in storage at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. A fifth is in storage with the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio. A sixth is on display in the US Army Aviation Museum's Training Support Facility in Fort Novosel, Alabama.

Specifications (Goodyear GA-468 Inflatoplane (XAO-3-GI))

thumb|Model 466/XAO-2 Inflatoplane

References

;Notes

;Citations

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  • Inflatoplane
  • Aircraft Finder for Goodyear AO (Inflatoplane)
  • GA486 at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum