The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an experimental aircraft made by 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 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."
Doh!
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.
Only 12 Goodyear Inflatoplanes were built, but development continued until the project was cancelled sixteen years later in 1973.
Goodyear donated two Inflatoplanes, one to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and one to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and I have had the dubious privilege of seeing them both in person.
15 comments:
I have a plane to catch. Excuse me while I inflate it.
(It sounded funnier in my under caffeinated brain!)
Yeah, doesn't seem like it would have much practical use!
I've been both places, but don't know if I've seen either of them.
The idea behind the plane sounds good but the end result would be terrible. Even a BB gun could shoot it down.
It's cool that you've actually seen both of them in person. :)
never heard of this before, but how interesting; I'm sure under the right circumstances it might prove to be beneficial, but not with how simple it could be destroyed. I was at the Smithsonian in 2005, must not have seen it or it wasn't there yet.....(but there's so much to see at them I could have easily missed it)
glad you got to see them both :)
enjoy the day :)
betty
Once again, the saying is proven true. You learn something new every day. I didn't know about this.
An inflateable plane? Hopefully it doesn't get a pin hole in it on takeoff!
An inflateable plane? Hopefully it doesn't get a pin hole in it on takeoff!
seems like they could have given it a catchier name...like 'blowup plane'..
That's nuts!
But super cool to learn about. It's amazing what can be done.
Don't remember seeing it on my trip there. Then again, I was all about the aim and shoot at the neat stuff and not so much on the reading of the placards...
Never heard of them EVER! Where have I been?
Another new tidbit from Iggy! Anything with the military--yup! Too easily shot down. But if they could have come up with some really new-age tougher material..?? And I thought of the planes that have crashed in the moutains or people stranded in the ocean...I wonder how it gets off the ground? Does it need a runway? I think they needed to focus on an inflatable helicopter, actually. I could think of a lot of uses for an inflatable helicopter! Every hiker, boater, traveler would want one! But I wonder if they could keep their shape in below zero weather.....??? You do get me thinking, Iggy! :):)
Amazing. And you've seen them both. And it took them HOW many years to cancel the development of them... .sixteen!!!!
wow Iggy that is great that you have seen both of those, I would love to see one of those for real..very great article..thanks for sharing..hugs..
Interesting...
An inflatible helicopter would be pretty cool! I'd commute to work in one if I had one.
:)
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