and passenger to , although the range of the plane was limited to . Operational history The test program at Goodyear's facilities near Wingfoot Lake, Akron, Ohio showed that the inflation could be accomplished with as little as 8 psi (544 mbar), less than a car tire. The flight test program had a fatal crash when Army aviator Lt. "Pug" Wallace was killed. The aircraft was in a descending turn when one of the control cables under the wing came off the pulley and was wedged in the pulley bracket, locking the stick. The turn tightened until one of the wings folded up over the propeller and was chopped up. With the wings flapping because of loss of air, one of the aluminum wing tip skids hit the pilot in the head, as was clear from marks on his helmet. Wallace was pitched out, over the nose of the aircraft and fell into the shallow lake. His parachute never opened. Only 12 Goodyear Inflatoplanes were built, but development continued until the project was cancelled in 1973. Variants GA-33 Inflatoplane The initial single-seat version, with open cockpit, based on the Taylor McDaniel inflatable rubber glider experiments from the early 1930s. One built. GA-447 Inflatoplane An enclosed cockpit and new wing, used for undercarriage experiments (tricycle, uniwheel, and hydroskid). One built. GA-466 Inflatoplane Company designation for the AO-2 Inflatoplane GA-468 Inflatoplane Company designation for the AO-3 Inflatoplane XAO-2-GI Inflatoplane Military designation for the GA-466. One built. XAO-3-GI Inflatoplane Military designation for the GA-468. Five built. Surviving aircraft Goodyear donated two Inflatoplanes for museum display at the end of the project, one to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and one to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Another is on display at the Stonehenge Air Museum in Fortine, Montana. A fourth is in storage at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. A fifth is in storage with the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio. Specifications (Goodyear GA-468 Inflatoplane (XAO-3-GI)) References Notes Citations External links Inflatoplane Aircraft Finder for Goodyear AO (Inflatoplane) GA486 at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Inflatable aircraft Inflatoplane 1950s United States experimental aircraft 1950s United States military rescue aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1956