About This File
Goodyear XAO-3
InflatoPlane
First Flight 13 February 1956
1955-1973
Twelve of the InflatoPlanes were built, each better than the one before.
The X-Plane modeled here is number one of twelve variants.
It is open air for the pilot, later models had a glass cockpit.
The README has photos of the real aircraft.
Sponsored by the US 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."
( A curious note- Sponsored by the US ARMY and cancelled by the US ARMY, this aircraft carries lettering on the side, “ONR”. ONR stands for Office of Naval Research! )
The purpose.. Designed as a package that could be parachuted to a pilot behind enemy lines for a ride home!
Weighing about 195 lbs in a package about 3 ft long and 2 ft tall and wide, it was easily dropped to a downed airman from a small cargo plane, or it could be packed in a package similar to a fuel drop tank.
There were 12 prototype models produced.
One model was sent to a wind tunnel. The testing showed that the wings would disastrously fold upon themselves at about 75 mph!
There was a fatal accident when the aircraft went over 70 mph and a wing folded just as it did in the wind tunnel.
The aircraft was made almost entirely of rubber and was inflated initially by a Carbon Dioxide bottle, and further filled from a blower on the engine.
After some shapes were filled out and the bags aligned on the ground the engine was started and it provided additional air pressure to completely fill out the shapes.
Pilots Notes:
Use extreme caution to avoid wake turbulence!
The real InflatoPlane used a rope starter to start the engine.this X-Plane model uses an electric starter!
The aircraft came with a long rope. The aircraft was to be tied to something near by while the pilot pulls the start rope. When the pilot was seated and ready to go, he would pull a knob that released the rope. There were no brakes on this type of aircraft. To simulate this action, I have provided a button marker DROP ROPE. Push this button once only, and you will be rolling along.
This single propellor aircraft will pull right at the beginning of a take off. It is easily controlled quickly. This is P-factor ( propellor precession ) some call it torque effect. All single engine, single prop aircraft do that.
Landing:
In the flare to land position shut off the fuel.
There are no brakes on this aircraft, and the wheels do not steer!
Landing on grass or between runways is preferred for short stopping distances.
Be gentle landing!
The integrity and shape of this aircraft are maintained by less psi than an automobile tire.
Internet resources:
Today a powered parachute could be used to achieve what the InflatoPlane was to be used for in 1955
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_parachute
However, 25 years before the Inflatoplane flew, this story was on the cover of Modern Mechanix Magazine in October 1930.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/cruising-parachute-driven-by-motor/#more
Credits: The nice wheels are from the X-Plane engineering library produced, by Barry Michael Wehrli, thanks Barry
The engine is a four cylinder engine cut in half to make 2 cylinders. The original engine is by Michael2 from the X-Plane engineering library.
Iam a dreamer, not an engineer
Albert Einstein said, “ If you can dream, you can do the impossible”