This Incredible Plane: Goodyear Inflatoplane. All Rights Reserved. This was one of those might-have-been airplanes designed by the Goodyear Company in the 1950s. 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. 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. We did inflate it a couple years ago but the pictire was on an old phone. Of course, what they really wanted to do was build rubber aeroplanes and they got their chance in the 1950s. Classroom Commander Student Adobe Lightroom For Student Lightroom For Students Student Housing Virginia Tech . JLD. I do fly helicopters. A human with interest in history and technology, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Goodyear_GA-447_Inflatoplane_in_flight.jpg. Taylor McDaniel died in 1952 at the age of 61, still convinced his idea for a rubber airplane was a sound concept. 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. The engine does not run but appears to be intact. The Inflatoplane's performance was comparable to that of a a J3 Cub. 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. There were at least two versions: The GA-468 was a single-seater. Development, testing, and evaluation of the inflatable airplane continued through 1972 and the project was cancelled in 1973. He managed to land safely. Designated the GA-33, the Inflatoplane was built and flown in a little over 12 days. This auction is not b.s. Takeoff from turf was in 250feet with 575feet needed to clear a 50-foot obstacle. 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 Software Copyright 2004- Although I posted this, Im still not back and I do not wish to continue posting anything for a while. It flew again the next week for the press and during a second flight test it slammed into the ground. http://www.ebay.com/itm/271712165354?_trksid=p2060778.m1438 . I acquired it in an estate that i bought a few years ago. The two-seat variant had slightly different characteristics. The test pilot suffered only a bruised right heel and a twisted left knee. Rate of climb was 550 ft per min. 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. Inflatable Plane - Goodyear Inflatoplane Trost Outdoors 1.35K subscribers Subscribe 339 50K views 9 years ago The Inflatoplane's performance was comparable to that of a a J3 Cub. I am testing the waters so shoot offers. Starting in the 1920s as the Goodyear Zeppelin Company, a division of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company located in Akron, Ohio, Goodyear built the rigid airships Akron and Macon. The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. It would be great if it was tested in Drift Boss mode. This one got a new wing and was used for undercarriage testing. I was going to display it but never got around to it. An engine-driven air compressor maintained the low air pressure needed to keep the airplane inflated and rigid. The right wing hit the ground in a near vertical position, collapsing it. Never heard of this before. The aircraft used a two-cycle 40-hp Nelson engine that had to be hand-started. That was right until they started crashing. 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. Structural integrity was retained in flight with forced air being continually circulated by the aircraft's motor. This airplane also could take off of water, my version is the 3 wheeled (platform). It held air perfectly. Apartment For Student. Designated the GA-33, the Inflatoplane was built and flown in a little over 12 days. Suddenly, the Inflatoplane seemed less revolutionary and more questionable. The Inflatoplane is not airworthy and should only be used for display purposes. The Inflatoplane carried a maximum weight of 240 lb., had a range of 390 mi., and an endurance of 6.5 hr.s. The largest home for sale in Munich, Germany is a $10,890,000 apartment with a size of 4,068 sqft. The Inflatoplane's performance was comparable to that of a a J3 Cub. Take off on sod was possible in 390 feet with 745 feet needed to clear a 50 foot obstacle. The 44 cubic ft (1.25 cubic meter) container could also be transported by truck, jeep trailer or aircraft. Item specifics Current date: 2014-12-29 We use cookies to track usage and preferences. The two-cycle 40-hp Nelson engine had to be hand-started and held 20 gallons of fuel. A more powerful 60 horsepower (45kW) McCulloch 4318 engine could power the 740 pounds (340kg) of plane and passenger to 70 miles per hour (110km/h), although the range of the plane was limited to 275 miles (443km). Find your dream home for sale in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The original concept of an all-fabric inflatable aircraft was based on Taylor McDaniel's inflatable rubber glider experiments in 1931. Rate of climb was 550 feet per minute. 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 airplane. Other possible uses included airborne reconnaissance and support for ground operations. Its neat @Eagle92Lightning, Thanks guys @AerialFighterSnakes @Trainzo, Yeah, it had to be that way. This is a great way to help new players get the recognition they deserve for their work. Then the plane went into a spin and the left wing seemed to deflate. 1956. . 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. As the above Mustard video notes, there were already doubts that an inflatable plane was really a good way to extract a downed pilot. Aviation Company began flight-testing an unusual little plane at Farnborough in 1955. Deflatoplane. The most successful variation of the inflatable rubber plane concept was the Inflatoplane, conceived, designed, built and flown by the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation in 1956 from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company's Wingfoot Lake Airship Base near Akron Ohio. 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. Later, a two-seater was built with a 60 HP engine, an estimated service ceiling of 16,000 feet and a cruising speed of 70 mph. 2GER 9066, "Demonstration Progress and Instrumentation Report on the GA 468 Inflatoplane", 1 November 1958. The aircraft was designed for short take offs and landings and was supposed to appeal to the United States Military. You know about it? Structural integrity was retained in flight with forced air being continually circulated by the aircraft's motor. Take off distance on sod was 250 ft with 575 ft needed to clear a 50-foot obstacle. Thanks for your time. It is the creation of engineers Dynamons World, The Goodyear Inflatoplane is a passionate and quite top-notch product of the Goodyear Aircraft Company. Since the inflated fuselage supported the engine mounts, the engine collapsed forward just as the pilot stood up to bail out. The Inflatoplane carried a maximum weight of 240 lb., had a range of 390 mi., and an endurance of 6.5 hr.s. Later, a 42 horsepower (31kW) engine was used in the aircraft. The development and test work proved promising, and in August 1959 Goodyear presented plans for a two more aerodynamically smooth Inflatoplane with a 100-hp engine, an enclosed cockpit and four fuel tanks slung under the wing. Its service ceiling was estimated at 10,000ft. Although it seemed an improbable project, the finished aircraft proved to be capable of meeting its design objectives although its sponsor, the United States Army, ultimately cancelled the project when it could not find a \"valid military use for an aircraft that could be brought down by a well-aimed bow and arrow.\"\r\rThe original concept of an all-fabric inflatable aircraft was based on Taylor McDaniel inflatable rubber glider experiments in 1931. It landed in 350 ft on sod. This made for a building material that was not just light, but strong enough to work for an aircraft. Morphy Auctions. The Goodyear Inflatoplanewas designed to be dropped on a pallet to downed military aviators, and could be inflated and ready for flight in minutes. 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 new model was designated the GA-468. In the early 1950s, the British tried to create an aircraft that could be carried deflated aboard a submarine, in a truck or on a tank, occupy little space and be quickly inflatable for reconnaissance and rescue missions. Ok here goes. Its not going to be cheap though so please dont waste my time. The X-Plane modeled here is number one of twelve variants. On January 11, McDaniel scheduled another test flight and press demonstration for newsreel companies, newspaper reporters and photographers. The engine sounded like it was going to conk out, witness William Church told the Beacon Journal. Best prices and best deals for Mercedes Benz cars in Munich. One THIS IS FOR THE GUY WHO HAS EVERYTHING? This was just sitting around, so here it is. The US Army was particularly open to new ideas and sponsored development of the Inflatoplane (sometimes called the Inflatibird). The Goodyear Inflatoplane was designed and built in only 12 weeks in 1956. With the wings flapping because of loss of air, one of the aluminum wing tip skids hit the pilot in the head, as was clear from marks on his helmet. These aircraft were designed to compensate for leaks since the designers took into account possible damage from enemy gunfire. I am attaching pics of not the exact plane but of a similar one as mine again is just in a pile. His parachute never opened. The wing, tail assembly and pilot's seat were constructed of a new rubberized Airmat fabric developed by Goodyear that consisted of joined layers of inflatable rubber-coated nylon fabric shaped by thousands of nylon threads that gave it one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any construction material. The airplane was wheeled out like a wheelbarrow and inflated in about 5 minutes using less air pressure than a car tire. Maximum speed was 72 miles per hour (116km/h), with a cruise speed of 60mph. 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. 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. You can google it and do all the research so im not going to go into it. It wasn t as bad an idea as you d think The Goodyear Inflatoplane. 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. could be deflated, rolled up into a bag, packed into the small fuselage and towed away behind a vehicle. If anyone ready this in the military at a position to make that happen i would do a trade. Goodyear no longer makes the Airmat fabric used in the construction of the Inflatoplane. Goodyear claimed it was 'suitable for all types of Army field operations, particularly reconnaissance'. en.wikipedia.org wiki Goodyear_InflatoplaneGoodyear Inflatoplane - Wikipedia Designed and built in only 12 weeks, the Goodyear Inflatoplanewas 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 . After a flight, the wing This time the glider had reached about 80 feet when the pilot lost control. 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. It was ideally suited for both land and water uses. Later developments included a 42-hp engine and a two-place inflatoplane design. The range was 275 miles with an endurance of 5.4 hours. The plane is being stored in one of our heated hangars and can be see anytime although it just looks like a pile of rubber.lol. 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. Very great idea . The damage? A total of 12 prototypes were built between 1956 and 1959, and testing continued until 1972, when the project was finally cancelled. Light Aircraft Mark 1, it had a huge, rubber-coated fabric inflatable wing with a small, wooden boxlike fuselage slung beneath it, tricycle landing gear and a two-place cockpit. 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. 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. 12 various test models were built, and the. It landed in 350feet. Its not going to be cheap though so please domt waste my time. version, designated the GA-466, featured a 60- hp engine, as well as a 69 mph top speed and a 230 mile range. Goodyear stitched two rubber sheets together with nylon. The only way to escape from the hostile environment is to walk or take road transportation. The airplane held 18 gallons of fuel and had a gross weight of 740 lb. Take off distance on sod was 250 feet with 575 feet needed to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The airplane held 20 gallons of fuel and carried a maximum weight of 240 lb. 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. When the nylon was exposed to air, it absorbed and repelled water as it stiffened, giving the aircraft its shape and rigidity. The objective is to promote history on Medium and demonstrate the value of historical writing. Designed and built in only 12weeks, 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. Auction closed on Friday, December 17, 2021. I will change that right now as this is a wild piece of aviation history. All Rights Reserved. The propeller is period correct but not the original to this Inflatoplane. We did inflate it a couple years ago but the pictire was on an old phone. It is NOT dry rotted whatsoever. The Inflatoplane's performance was comparable to that of a a J3 Cub. This example appears to be complete and could be restored or used as a static display in a museum or aviation enthusiasts collection. A total of 12 prototypes were built between 1956 and 1959, and testing continued until 1972, when the project was finally cancelled. Okay One broken wire. The aircraft is in storage at the Garber Restoration Facility. When fully inflated the wings of the Goodyear Inflatoplane were rigid enough to hold the weight of a person. [1] The flight test program had a fatal crash when Army aviator Lt. "Pug" Wallace was killed. In 1956, four years after McDaniels death, the company designed and built 12 Inflatoplanes over the course of 12 weeks, notes the Smithsonian. Twelve Inflatoplanes were built. Consider a fighter jet crashed deep inside enemy territory. If you are on Mac, copy this airplane ID to the clipboard and press CMD+L while in the designer in SimplePlanes to download this airplane. It took about five minutes to inflate the aircraft, the pilot then hand-starting the two-stroke engine. Wallace was pitched out, over the nose of the aircraft and fell into the shallow lake. Maybe you have something of equal value? Goodyear XAO-3 InflatoPlane First Flight 13 February 1956 1955-1973 Twelve of the InflatoPlanes were built, each better than the one before. . [7] A fifth is in storage with the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio. I am attaching pics of not the exact plane but of a similar one as mine again is just in a pile. Rate of climb was 550 ft per min. On 20 US gallons (76 L) of fuel, the aircraft could fly 390 miles (630km), with an endurance of 6.5hours. 1/2 price off sale! The rubber fuselage exhibits scattered small cracks which are typical of old rubber. This plane is the real deal. Rate of climb was 550 ft per min. Back in 1931, HistoryNet notes, Taylor McDaniel would patent what is considered to be the first inflatable plane. The turn tightened until one of the wings folded up over the propeller and was chopped up. When the nylon was exposed to air, it absorbed and repelled water as it stiffened,[clarification needed] giving the aircraft its shape and rigidity. There were two versions of the Inflatoplane, The GA-466, which was the the two-seater version, and featured more powerful 60 horsepower engine, and this example, which is a GA-468, the single seat version. [6] A fourth is in storage at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. The rubber plane seemed promising and soon the idea was pitched to the public for recreational use. Development, testing, and evaluation of the inflatable airplane continued through 1972 and the project was cancelled in 1973. I do fly helicopters. Goodyear, a famous tire company, came up with a solution. This auction is not b.s. Despite seeming like an unconvincing project, several prototypes were built between 1956 and 1959, and testing continued until 1972, when the project was finally cancelled making this aircraft a rare aviation collectible. The range was 390 miles with an endurance of 6.5 hours. Ads from car dealers and private sellers. Goodyear estimated that a single person could use a hand pump to inflate the plane halfway in about 10 minutes. [4] Only 12 Goodyear Inflatoplanes were built, but development continued until the project was cancelled in 1973. Towed by a truck, the glider reached an altitude of 100 feet before the pilot experienced control problems. 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. He never even managed to open his parachute. Its cruise speed was 60 mph. The museum is now closed, and the GA-33 is currently in storage in the Columbus area. Although. 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 Some rather optimistic performance figures were issued for the single-seat version, designated GA-468; these included a service ceiling of 10,000ft and a range of 390 miles. If anyone ready this in the military at a position to make that happen i would do it. (274.3cm, 102.1kg, 670.56 x 599.44cm) Materials: Rubber body with 2-wheeled truck under cockpit. Test pilots reported that the little plane was actually easy to fly and handled well. The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an inflatable experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. [1] We may earn a commission from links on this page. The company also developed a parachute-drop 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. One Inflatoplane was donated to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and another to the Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. a two-place Inflatoplane. There are a few areas with small holes that have been taped, but does not interfere with the stability of the aircraft. In the Soviet Union, engineers designed, built and flew a glider constructed out of a light rubberized canvas to be used in ferrying supplies inexpensively into Siberia. . 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]. Two-seat variant has a 60-hp McCulloch engine. The first known attempt to design, build and fly an inflatable rubber glider and then a powered rubber airplane came about after a fatal crash in a Brazilian jungle after World War I. The aircraft was a weird idea proven to work, but it never really found its place. Army Lt. Malcolm Wallace, 26, of Greenville, Texas, was training on an Inflatoplane when it began to spiral out of control about 700 feet up. If someone is seriously interested it can be inflated anytime. This would lead into the GA-468, which had some impressive specs for an inflatable: The airplane was wheeled out like a wheelbarrow and inflated in about 5 minutes using less air pressure than a car tire. It held air perfectly. Only 12 were built with just three surviving today. 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. This incredible plane was sent in by a reader and Im amazed that weve only given just a passing mention of it. 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. The Akron Beacon Journal details the two crashes that ultimately put the whole program into question: Pilot Ulm narrowly escaped death in April 1959 when the plane crashed into the Patuxent River during a test flight in Maryland. It apparently never made it into published versions OOYYO rating - see more Download Android application Car price comparison engine. The GA-468s, the Army Transportation Corps began development on The 44 cubic ft (1.25 cubic meter) container could also be transported by truck, jeep trailer or aircraft. Click the Spotlight button below and all of your followers will receive a notification. 1955 Goodyear Inflatoplane listed on Ebay today. This airplane is based off the inflato-plane. Inspection, Inflatoplane Model GA 468", 6 March 1961. I am in the airplane business and have an FBO at the Reading airport in Pennsylvania. The GA-468 one-seater model could go almost 400 miles on 20 gallons of. | SimpleAuctionSite | All rights reserved. Thanks for your time. 8:29:38 PM. OOYYO. I couldnt make it work another way @OrangeConnor. Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines. Lockheed Martin now owns and operates the operation, including Wingfoot Lake testing area, near Akron, and the blimp business. Its cruise speed was 55 mph, stall speed 43 mph, and maximum speed 70 mph. Its service ceiling was estimated at 10,000 ft. No Activation Groups Goodyear donated two Inflatoplanes, one to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and one to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. @Eagle92Lightning. Mercedes Benz Ads from car dealers and private sellers. [1] This is literally one of a kind.
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