I am in the airplane business and have an FBO at the Reading airport in Pennsylvania. It is NOT dry rotted whatsoever. Thanks for your time. Designed and built in only 12 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. I acquired it in an estate that i bought a few years ago. This was one of those might-have-been airplanes designed by the Goodyear Company in the 1950s. 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. Goodyear XAO-3 Inflatoplane. Then the plane went into a spin and the left wing seemed to deflate. 1956 United States of America CRAFT-Aircraft Goodyear Aircraft Corporation Inflatable, rubber, monoplane. It seems like a good idea on paper. The Inflatoplane carried a maximum weight of 240 lb., had a range of 390 mi., and an endurance of 6.5 hr.s. But when the Great Depression hit the United States in 1931 and 1932, paralyzing the aviation industry, it became next to impossible to raise money for further development. Designed and built in only 12 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. Source: Flight, 1936 Strangely, the Soviets were hellbent on militarizing gliders above all, and an inflatable glider filled the box for an infantry weapon that would dramatically enhance mobility. Goodyear stitched two rubber sheets together with nylon. The test program at Goodyear's facilities near Wingfoot Lake, Akron, Ohio showed that the inflation could be accomplished with as little as 8 psi (544mbar), less than a car tire. 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.[2][3]. Take off on sod was possible in 390 feet with 745 feet needed to clear a 50 foot obstacle. Auction closed on Friday, December 17, 2021. For the easier transport it could be packed into a 44 cubic foot container. OOYYO. The range was 390 miles with an endurance of 6.5 hours. I am listing my 1955? This incredible plane was sent in by a reader and Im amazed that weve only given just a passing mention of it. I am testing the waters so shoot offers. Very great idea . I do fly helicopters. In 1956, Goodyear Aircraft Co. merged its know-how in the building of lighter-than-air craft with its knowledge of fixed-winged aircraft and came up with an innovative, inflatable airplane that it called the Inflatoplane. Yep! Only 12 were ever built and i dont know of any that are left. 1956. . The aircraft used a 60-hp McCulloch 4318 engine that was also hand-started. 8:29:38 PM. THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!!!! The aircraft were tested at Goodyears facilities near Akron, Ohio, and the military even expressed interest in the concept, adopting their own design with the designations XAO-2-GI, for the GA-466, and XAO-3-GI, for the GA-468. Structural integrity was retained in flight with forced air being continually circulated by the aircraft's motor. A human with interest in history and technology, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Goodyear_GA-447_Inflatoplane_in_flight.jpg. The Inflatoplane's primary mission remained serving as a one or two-man rescue vehicle that could be dropped to downed pilots, broken out of its container, and inflated and made airborne within December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria, This lot is closed for bidding. How it got there is a bit of mystery, since the plane was supposed to have been taken to a landfill and buried. The idea was to design an aircraft which could be dropped behind enemy lines and easily assembled by downed airmen so they could escape and evade through the air rather than risking vulnerable, hovering helicopters. [1] The flight test program had a fatal crash when Army aviator Lt. "Pug" Wallace was killed. Its service ceiling was estimated at 10,000 ft. An Inflatoplane could even take some arms fire as the engine also worked to keep the craft inflated. JalopRecs | 'Tommy Boy' Is One of the Best Car Comedies of the '90s, Rainn Wilson is Tired of Tesla and its Yoke, Racing Tech | How F1 Sanctions Wind Tunnel Testing for Close Racing. It needed no more controls than those on the handlebars of a motorcycle. Although I posted this, Im still not back and I do not wish to continue posting anything for a while. It apparently never made it into published versions Using a high-grade rubberized fabric similar to the material in life rafts, Britain's M.L. I was going to display it but never got around to it. Maybe you have something of equal value? Somewhat like a giant inner-tube. The US Army was particularly open to new ideas and sponsored development of the Inflatoplane (sometimes called the Inflatibird). If someone is seriously interested it can be inflated anytime. There are only a few surviving examples of the Goodyear Inflatoplane, most of which reside in museums. The airplane needs a couple engine parts fabricated but i can have it done in my maintenance shop if need be. The inflatoplane has not been cleaned since it was found in a barn 15 years ago. A total of 12 prototypes were built between 1956 and 1959, and testing continued until 1972, when the project was finally cancelled. This one got a new wing and was used for undercarriage testing. Goodyear estimated that a single person could use a hand pump to inflate the plane halfway in about 10 minutes. No Activation Groups One proposed use was to drop the container behind enemy lines so downed pilots could rescue themselves. Normal Flight Controls In June 1959, an Army pilot making the final 35 minutes of a required flight put the Inflatoplane through violent maneuvers that were not called for in the program. Somewhat like a giant inner-tube. One Inflatoplane was donated to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and another to the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. 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. Taylor McDaniel died in 1952 at the age of 61, still convinced his idea for a rubber airplane was a sound concept. The range of the two-seater version was 275 miles. A friend of my father is actually an arms dealer and was going to try to trade it with the US army for a blackhawk helicopter (not kidding) but it hasnt come to fruition. The test pilot suffered only a bruised right heel and a twisted left knee. Building a rubber airplane or glider that would safely bounce a few times in the event of a crash landing rather than disintegrate on contact-has intrigued aeronautical engineers for many years. 1955 Goodyear Inflatoplane listed on Ebay today. Other possible uses included airborne reconnaissance and support for ground operations. It wasn t as bad an idea as you d think The Goodyear Inflatoplane. We did inflate it a couple years ago but the pictire was on an old phone. Think of Goodyear and one inevitably thinks of "The Goodyear Blimp." The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, well known for the Goodyear blimp. Review and Buy used Mercedes Benz cars online at OOYYO. The aircraft was designed for short take offs and landings and was supposed to appeal to the United States Military. The testing was ceased after a fatal accident that claimed the life of an Army test pilot. I acquired it in an estate that i bought a few years ago. The 44 cubic ft (1.25 cubic meter) container could also be transported by truck, jeep trailer or aircraft. Designed and built in only 12 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. I will change that right now as this is a wild piece of aviation history. In 1956, four years after McDaniels death, the company designed and built 12 Inflatoplanes over the course of 12 weeks, notes the Smithsonian. Specifications (Goodyear GA-468 Inflatoplane (XAO-3-GI)), CBS quiz show "I've Got a Secret" 1956 Goodyear engineer J Thomas Blair demonstrates the Inflatoplane, "Summary: Report of the development of a one place inflatoplane", Aircraft Finder for Goodyear AO (Inflatoplane), GA486 at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goodyear_Inflatoplane&oldid=1152255216, 1950s United States experimental aircraft, 1950s United States military rescue aircraft, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from March 2019, Articles with failed verification from February 2022, Aircraft specs templates using more general parameter, Aircraft specs templates using more performance parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Goodyear GA-447 Inflatoplane at the Akron, Ohio test area, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 03:31. It took about five minutes to inflate the aircraft, the pilot then hand-starting the two-stroke engine. Spotlighting lets you share this airplane with all of your followers. We may earn a commission from links on this page. To improve on structural stability, the Inflatoplanes used Goodyear's Airmat that consisted of joined layers of inflatable rubber-coated nylon fabric shaped by thousands of nylon threads. Per Ardua Ad Astra. This example appears to be complete and could be restored or used as a static display in a museum or aviation enthusiasts collection. Bye guys. This. THIS IS FOR THE GUY WHO HAS EVERYTHING? The idea was that it could be used by the military as a rescue plane to evacuate agents, downed pilots and military personnel from the hostile territory. After successful flight-testing of the GA-33, Goodyear developed a more advanced model designated the GA-447 under the sponsorship of the Office of Naval Research. The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. There are a few areas with small holes that have been taped, but does not interfere with the stability of the aircraft. Suddenly, the Inflatoplane seemed less revolutionary and more questionable. A friend of my father is actually an arms dealer and was going to try to trade it with the US army for a blackhawk helicopter (not kidding) but it hasnt come to fruition. The Inflatoplane's performance was comparable to that of a a J3 Cub. The accident, which resulted in the death of his friend and partner' prompted Taylor McDaniel to think about building an airplane out of inflatable rubber tubes to protect the passengers and pilot in an accident. It took about five minutes to inflate to about 25psi (170kPa); at full size, it was 19ft 7in (5.97m) long, with a 22ft (6.7m) wingspan. The test results were so impressive that Goodyear built 10 more Inflatoplanes under the sponsorship of the Army Transportation Corps and the Office of Naval Research. The aircraft was designed for short take offs and landings and was supposed to appeal to the United States Military. The rubber plane seemed promising and soon the idea was pitched to the public for recreational use. Never heard of this before. The design was to provide for an inflatable rubber airplane that could be used for military purposes. McDaniel's second construction effort was a bird shaped inflated rubber tube glider mostly put together from his first aircraft before he ran out of money. This auction is not b.s. When the initial trial flights proved successful, the head of the project, P.I. Lucky for those who get to see this plane. Deflatoplane. After making a few control adjustments, an experienced glider pilot and friend of McDaniel's, Joseph P. Bergling, flew the glider four more times that same day. Its service ceiling was estimated at 10,000ft. Goodyear no longer makes the Airmat fabric used in the construction of the Inflatoplane. A pilot would then hand-start the two-stroke cycle,[1] 40 horsepower (30kW) Nelson engine, and takeoff with a maximum load of 240 pounds (110kg). Take off distance on sod was 250 ft with 575 ft needed to clear a 50-foot obstacle. Robot vacuums, stick vacuums, high-performance mops and more are up to 35% off during this Target deal. Rate of climb was 550 ft per min. Photo: Goodyear The Inflatoplane needed a stretch of 350 feet (106.5 meters) to land and 250 feet (76.2 meters) for takeoff. After all, theyd have to fly through the same area they got shot down in but in a slower, weaker aircraft. 2GER 9066, "Demonstration Progress and Instrumentation Report on the GA 468 Inflatoplane", 1 November 1958. The wing and tail assemblies are made of a rubberised fabric developed by Goodyear and called Airmat, which consists of two layers of nylon fabric joined by thousands of dropped threads. If I am not mistaken it was an attempt to develop a troop delivery aircraft for a small cost by the USAAC. It flew again the next week for the press and during a second flight test it slammed into the ground. The airplane held 18 gallons of fuel and had a gross weight of 740 lb. Two months later, disaster struck at Wingfoot Lake. 2,409 used Mercedes Benz cars for sale from Munich. Although the plane didn't turn out to be a major project, it made the Goodyear Goodyear brand accessible to everyone with a passion for technology and fleeing the complex. Grachowsky, began planning an improved version. Its neat @Eagle92Lightning, Thanks guys @AerialFighterSnakes @Trainzo, Yeah, it had to be that way. The first Inflatoplane, GA-33, was a single-seat model similar to the McDaniel glider. Specifications for Goodyear GA-466 Inflatoplane Crew: 1 Capacity: 1 passenger Length: 19 ft 2 in Wingspan: 28 ft Height: 4 ft Loaded weight: 740 lb Powerplant: 1 McCulloch 4318 air-cooled, 60 hp Performance Maximum speed: 70 mph Range: 275 mi Service ceiling: 6,500 ft Rate of climb: 500 ft/min Inflatable Plane - Goodyear Inflatoplane Watch on Maximum speed was 72 miles per hour (116km/h), with a cruise speed of 60mph. The Goodyear Inflatoplane was designed and built in only 12 weeks in 1956. You can google it and do all the research so im not going to go into it. Powered by a single, two-stroke, 42-hp, Nelson engine mounted behind the pilot and above the wing after inflation. Wallace was pitched out, over the nose of the aircraft and fell into the shallow lake. Two-seat variant has a 60-hp McCulloch engine. On 20 US gallons (76 L) of fuel, the aircraft could fly 390 miles (630km), with an endurance of 6.5hours. Lol I think so also. Bidding ended on 12/15/2021, The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. When fully inflated the wings of the Goodyear Inflatoplane were rigid enough to hold the weight of a person. Take off distance on sod was 250 feet with 575 feet needed to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The aircraft used a two-cycle 40-hp Nelson engine that had to be hand-started. The Inflatoplane could stay packed into a fairly small container until it was needed. This is literally one of a kind. Best prices and best deals for Mercedes Benz cars in Munich. Back in the United States, McDaniel worked on his idea for a number of years and finally received a patent for an inflated rubber tube glider that flew twice on January 4, 1931. I am attaching pics of not the exact plane but of a similar one as mine again is just in a pile. The gliders could then be deflated, packed into a suitcase measuring 39 by 39 by 19.5 inches and weighing only 169.4 pounds loaded, then flown back to be reused. Apartment For Student. He never even managed to open his parachute. Ok here goes. It landed in 350 ft on sod. JLD. You can buy it now for $250,000.00!! Later, a 42 horsepower (31kW) engine was used in the aircraft. The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, well known for the Goodyear blimp.