The InflatoPlane

Incredibly, this actually existed—an inflatable aircraft manufactured for the Army by Goodyear Tire and Rubber. Testing began in 1956 for a variety of military applications, including reconnaissance and escape and evasion, the idea being to parachute-drop it to troops stuck behind enemy lines. It took five minutes to inflate with a simple hand pump…

…The pilot then hand-started a 40-horsepower engine and, with 300 feet, could take off. 20 gallons of fuel brought a range of 500 miles.

Here's video of, basically, the same process, plus flight.

Twelve Inflatoplanes were built before the project was cancelled in 1973 because the aircraft proved vulnerable to any enemy with a bow and arrow, let alone bullets.

Related Links: 30-Second War Story,

The Coolest Plane That Never Was

Once a Spy

keith thomsonComment