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.
source.image: Mustard
A plane small and light enough to pack up inside the family station wagon, that could be fully inflated and ready for flight in just five minutes. Earlier attempts at building inflatable aircraft had failed because inflated rubber was a poor material choice for aircraft, resulting in planes that were too slow, wobbly and structurally unstable to be of practical use. 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,[clarification needed] giving the aircraft its shape and rigidity.
Advertisement
There were at least two versions: The GA-468 was a single-seater. It took about five minutes to inflate to about 25 psi, at full size, it was 19 ft 7 in long, with a 22 ft wingspan. A pilot would then hand-start the two-stroke cycle, 40 horsepower Nelson engine, and takeoff with a maximum load of 240 pounds. On 20 US gallons of fuel, the aircraft could fly 390 miles , with an endurance of 6.5 hours. Maximum speed was 72 miles per hour, with a cruise speed of 60 mph. Later, a 42 horsepower engine was used in the aircraft. Takeoff from turf was in 250 feet with 575 feet needed to clear a 50-foot obstacle.
