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

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• 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
• Publication Date: May 26, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

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