MEETING WITH (SANITIZED) REPRESENTATIVE ON POWERED BALLOONS - 25 MAY 1959

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040031-9
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 12, 2012
Sequence Number: 
31
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 26, 1959
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040031-9.pdf62.86 KB
Body: 
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040031-9 * Luiut-~UENTIAL ~ `" ~ ~~ 3UBJDCT: Meeting with Goodyear Representative on Powered Balloons - 25 May 1959 1. The undersigned this dat 25X1 of Mr. Bissell's Staff and Messrs of Goodyear Aircraft 25X1 Company. The Goodyear representatives wan discuss new ideas associated with high altitude lighter-than-air eraft.was the spokesman and had 25X1 general ideas but no Figures With him. The idea mentioned Was a vehicle that could combine aerodynamic and static lift by making an air-foil shaped blimp. For very high altitudes liquid hydrogen Was to be used as a fuel for s chemical engine. $inae no estimated performance figures Were obtain- able there Was little to talk abort and it Was apparent to the igned that the Goodyear representatives Were on a "Fishing expeditiod'. made 25X1 the statement that a sphere has the most efficient volume to surface area ratio so naturally if the sphere Were pushed or distorted into some other shape this ideal ratio Would be maintained (as long as it Was a sphere originally). This bit of nonsense asst some doubts on the little eUe the man had to say. He ryas asked by the undersigned if Goodyear considered plastic films for high altitude blimp Work and the answer given Was "only for very high altitude -those approaching outer speiee", otherwise fabric Was considered. The question Was rephrased: "hoar big a blimp Would be needed to go to 1~0,00~ feet With four or five hundred pound payload". 0 stated he didn't 25X1 have the figures but it might be around three million cubic feet. Obviously his answers rere not supported by very mulch advance calculations, one mil plastic material Would require four million cubic fe t uld in- crease this volume by at least a factor of tWti. had to 25X1 catch a plane and Wanted to finish a discussion on sn ec s to the ~dersigned therefore no summary type discussion With 25X1 Was possible at the time. File -Balloon, Powered CONFIDENTIAL DOC ~~ REY DATE 4~ BT~~L~L....-' QR94 CAMP ~~~ 0!-I ~~2._ TYPE ~ r ~4G CLASS ~_ Pt.GES , / REY CL.AS L@ST __.~'~_ RtXT REY ~~ e_ AUTHt NR 10 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040031-9