Goodyear Inflatoplane
| Goodyear Inflatoplane | |
|---|---|
 Single-seat Inflatoplane 468 AO-3 with closed cockpit |
|
| Type: | "Inflatable" experimental aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 1955? |
| Production time: |
1955-56 |
| Number of pieces: |
12 (not secured) |
The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an experimental aircraft from the US manufacturer Goodyear Aircraft Corporation , a subsidiary of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company from the 1950s. Although the manufacturer was best known for the production of airships, Goodyear also produced more than 4000 F4U Corsair under license as Goodyear FG during World War II . The intended goal in the development of the Inflatoplane was the production of a light aircraft with a completely "inflatable" airframe, whereby the extensive experience in building airships should be used. The aircraft was intended for different tasks. B. planned to drop the aircraft behind enemy lines by parachute in order to enable downed pilots to return independently with the help of the aircraft.
Although the design specifications could largely be met, the aircraft was neither adopted by the US Army nor by the US Navy. The total production was probably only about twelve machines.
history
The history of the development of the inflatoplane cannot be clearly represented with the available literature. The initial model was probably the GA-33, which is said to have flown for the first time in December 1955. It is documented that the single-seater, who flew without any protective covering for the pilot, had the aircraft registration number N39635 on photos . In another source, this machine is already referred to as Model 468 (GA-468) and named as the first design with the first flight on February 13, 1956 in the development history. When describing the GA-466 / GA-468 in two other sources, the GA-33 is also not mentioned.
From the unclad single-seater prototype, the next thing that was most likely developed was the GA-447 with a clad cockpit, which is said to have had its maiden flight on May 28, 1957. Allegedly ten copies, including a two-seater, were produced for the US Office of Naval Research (ONR).
It is undisputed that the Model 466, a two-seater that used a McCulloch 4318E with 65 hp as a drive, was tested by the US Army and designated there as the XAO-2GI (A: fixed wing aircraft, O: observation, sa: designation system for aircraft of the US Army from 1956 to 1962 ). The single-seat Model 468, also tested by the Army, of which five each were produced for the US Army and the ONR, had the Army designation XAO-3GI .
construction
The Inflatoplane is a single-engine tensioned shoulder wing wing with rectangular wings. The wings and the tail unit were made of a rubberized fabric ( Airmat ). This consisted of two nylon layers that were formed by thousands of woven pile threads ( dropped pile threads ). When inflating with a compressor or with a hand pump, the two layers were pressed apart and the threads pulled tight so that the intended surface shape was achieved. Although the intended air pressure for the two-seater was only 8.5 psi (about 0.6 bar) and for the single-seater 7 psi (0.49 bar), the wing was sufficiently stiff to support the weight of a man even in the outer area can. The last examples built were retrofitted with a compressor that was supposed to ensure the necessary air pressure inside even after being fired with 0.30 caliber weapons (7.62 mm).
The hull was made of normal rubberized fabric, which was also used in the Goodyear airships. The motor, which drove a two-bladed traction propeller, was built into a three-legged frame at the level of the rear edge of the wing and braced towards the wings. In the “pressureless” state, the folded aircraft including the engine could be transported in a jeep or in the trunk of an American passenger car.
Comparable aircraft types
- The ML Aviation Utility pursued the mid-1950s also the concept of easy to be operated ultralight aircraft that should be used for military purposes. Here, however, only the wing was inflatable, while the fuselage nacelle was made of wood.
- The Ryan Flex Wing , whose wings were designed according to the Rogallo principle , was developed using a comparable conceptual approach.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | GA-466 | GA-468 |
|---|---|---|
| crew | 2 | 1 |
| length | 6.0 m | 6.0 m |
| span | 8.5 m | 6.7 m |
| Empty mass | 130 kg | 102 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 336 kg | 250 kg |
| Top speed | 112 km / h | 115 km / h |
| Marching speed | 88 km / h | 96 km / h |
| Stall speed | 69 km / h | 59 km / h |
| Climbing performance at sea level | 152 m / min | 170 m / min |
| Service ceiling | 1980 m | 3140 m |
| Takeoff route | 120 m | 76 m |
| Landing route | 107 m | |
| Maximum flight time | 5.4 h | 6.5 h |
| Engines | 1 × McCulloch 4318E, 65 hp (48 kW) | 1 × four-cylinder two-stroke boxer engine Nelson H-63 A, 44 PS (32 kW) |
See also
literature
- Leonard Bridgman (Ed.): Jane's All The World's Aircraft - 1959-60 . Sampson Low, Marston & Company, London 1959, p. 303
- Karlheinz Kens: Aircraft types - type book of international aviation , 4th edition, Carl Lange Verlag, Duisburg 1963, p. 291 f.
- Goodyear's Inflatoplanes . In: Airplane Monthly , October 1985, p. 518 f.
Web links
- Photo of a single-seat version with a closed cockpit (GA-447 or GA-468?)
- History of the inflatoplanes on fiddlersgreen.net
- Video showing the commissioning and flight of a Goodyear GA-468 from the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Among other things, inflating with a hand air pump is shown
- Video of NACA stress tests on an ONR GA-468
- Photos of the GA-466 in loading condition and in flight
- Photo of the GA-33? in 1990