| "Between 1946
and 1961, the Air Force and the Atomic Energy Commission spent more than
$7 billion trying to develop a nuclear-powered aircraft. Although no airplane
ever flew under nuclear power, the Air Force converted a B-36 bomber, known
as the Nuclear Test Aircraft, to carry an operating three-megawatt air-cooled
reactor to assess operational problems (it made 47 flights over Texas and
New Mexico between July 1955 and March 1957). The NB-36H carried the reactor
in its aft bomb bay and incorporated a new nose section, which housed a
12 ton lead and rubber shielded crew compartment with 10-12 inch (25-30
centimeters) thick leaded-glass windows. Water pockets in the fuselage
and behind the crew compartment also absorbed radiation (due to weight
constraints, nothing was done to shield the considerable emissions from
the top, bottom or sides of the reactor)." (Source: Brookings
Institute)
In theory, nuclear-powered
aircraft could stay in flight for weeks at a time. General Electric
built two prototype engines for such a plane. These engines exist
today and can be viewed outside the EBR-1
complex in Arco,
Idaho.
SL-1: The First
Fatal Reactor Accident in U.S. History
See the entire SL-1 Reactor
Accident documentary! Over 90 minutes of video on two CD-ROMs!
These two films from the
1960s include actual footage of the recovery effort, views from both inside
and outside the reactor building, close up reactor images and rare views
inside the former NRTS facilities.
Just $14.99 for the two
CD-ROM set (includes shipping in the United States)
Contact
us for shipping outside the US |
B-36 bomber converted to
carry test reactor
One idea for an operational
nuclear-powered aircraft involved detachable reactor modules that could
be replaced as needed. In this artist's conception, the pilots were in
the section forming part of the tail, which could be detached in cases
of emergency. (Source: Brookings Institute)
One of two HTRE aircraft
engines in Arco, Idaho
|
