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Description
| Manufacturer: | Goodyear | |
| Base model: | AO | |
| Designation: | XAO-3 | |
| Nickname: | Inflatoplane | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1956-1962 | |
| Basic role: | Airplane, Observation | |
| Status: | Experimental | |
Specifications
| Not Yet Available |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| Patuxent River Naval Air Museum | Patuxent River | Maryland |
XAO-3 on display
Naval Air Warfare Center |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Rachel Norris , VA | Donna,
I've read about your grandfather and reviewed his patent. I am currently writing a technical paper on inflatable aircraft structures, which is how I came about his name. From what I understand, he demonstrated his concept for the US Army and there is a newsreel from 1931 that mentions his success demonstration of the "Rubber Glider". Is this true? I would like to learn more of his work in this area, if you have the information to share. Thanks! 08/08/2008 @ 09:45 [ref: 22395] |
| Donna Hubscher , FL | I grew up listening to exciting stories about my grandfather, Taylor McDaniel: most memorable were how he had been an explorer in the Amazon and his flying machine invention that he had patented in 1933. He truly was a visionary. Check out the June 8, 2008 blog. It was in Brazil that he met my grandmother and my mother was born. Unfortunately, I never got to know him personally, as he died when I was 2 months old. I plan to build and fly an inflatoplane one day based cloely upon his patent.
06/13/2008 @ 22:57 [ref: 21419] |
| Jim Monfort , MD | The only Inflatoplane that is kept inflated is in the Naval Air Test Museum located at Patuxent river. The photo of the plane is at theirolder site, there is a new, temporary, museum just outside the base. 04/17/2007 @ 11:41 [ref: 16207] |
| Randy Duncan Golden, CO | Sorry about the previous post...
Here's some more info: [NC39635] (unknown magazine clip) GA-33, -447 Inflatoplane 1956 = 1pOmwM; 40hp Nelson H-63A; ff: 2/13/56 (p: Dick Ulm). Inflatable, rubber air-mass construction, somewhat like a giant inner-tube. Structural integrity was retained in flight with forced air being continually circulated by the motor, and required less air pressure than the average auto tire. Designed and built in only 12 weeks. Take-off run on grass was 390'. Concept based on Taylor McDaniel inflatable rubber glider experiments in 1931. POP: 1 [N39635], led to subsequent improved, enclosed-cockpit GA-447 with new wing design (span: 34'0") for military evaluation; tested with various gear arrangements, from tricycle to uniwheel, also on a hydroskid for operations on water. AO-2 Inflatoplane (Model 466) 1957 = 2p; 65hp McCulloch 4318-E; load: 450#. POP: 1 as XOA-3-GI [57-6537]. Goodyear AO-3 (Goodyear Corp) AO-3 Inflatoplane (Model 468) 1957 = 1p; 44hp Nelson H-63A; span: 28'0" length: 19'8" v: 70/55/43; ff: 5/28/57 (p: Dick Ulm). POP: 5 for USAF as XOA-3-GI [57-6532/6536] and reportedly 5 for USN Office of Naval Research, but a search of USN regs failed to produce any information. GA-400R Gizmo 1957 = 1pOH; water-cooled two-cycle engine; rotor: 20'0" load: 220# v: 60/46/0 range: 50. Designed to serve as a courier, liaison or tactical vehicle. 02/16/2007 @ 12:14 [ref: 15546] |
| Randy Duncan Golden, Colorado, CO | Hi,
What a neat airplane. I wonder where the picture was taken at the bottom of this web page, it appears to be a museum. Does anyone know? I'd like to take a field trip and see this remarkable machine. Thanks, Randy 02/16/2007 @ 11:58 [ref: 15544] |
| EARL RATHBUN COLUMBUS, OH |
I HAVE BEEN INTRESTED IN THIS PLANE SINCE I FIRST SAW IT ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL. I BELIEVE PEOPLE WOULD BE INTRESTED IN PURCHASING IT IN TODAYS MARKET EVEN IF A FEW ALTERATIONS NEEDED TO BE MADE. IT CERTAINLY WOULD MAKE A GREAT ULTRALIGHT. 02/04/2007 @ 11:54 [ref: 15413] |
| david wilson , OTH | I\'m just reading a book called Air Commando Chronicles by Colonel Robert L Gleason.
He flew this machine in the early \'60\'s. It had wing and tail warping for controls, no instruments, just a safty belt. The only controls were a stick and throttle. It cruised at about 40mph at 500 feet. 12/27/2004 @ 06:35 [ref: 8976] |
| joe rodlitz boynton beach, FL | i was there during the test flight of the xao-3. bet my buddy $2.00 that it would never get off the ground. i lost!
a short time later the wings of the aircraft collapsed in flight. pilot got out safely and was fished out of the patuxent river. never did get my $2.00 back 11/22/2004 @ 12:34 [ref: 8681] |
| Little Green ARMY PILOTS , NM | INFLATO-UFO
The Balloon Crash at Roswell was an inflato-surveilance platform. Good Year makes BLIMPS that Hover and guess what, they come in LOTS of Secret Jet Powered Configerations as well ! The Lights Over Phoenix back in the early 90s, remember thousands saw them and it made the national Evening News many times. Well those AMBER all-weather landing lights many saw was a Flight Crew Scew Up Yes we have Jet Powered, High Tech, Troop and Surveilance Craft built by Good Year and Skunk Works. With Good Year Air Mat many types of LIGHTER THAN AIR - aircraft are possible ! Hello 09/24/2004 @ 13:43 [ref: 8328] |
| TomLeeM Cranbury, NJ | It would be neat if the Inflatoplane came as a kit or a whole plane where people with a sport pilots licence (near future release by the FAA) could fly it. It could bring flying to more people since it is very compact to store and would probably cost very little to own. 08/16/2004 @ 10:29 [ref: 8071] |
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