[Wardenclyffe]

NUCLEAR-POWERED CONVAIR NB-36H "PEACEMAKER": Depicted here is a view of the Convair NB-36H Peacemaker experimental aircraft and a Boeing B-50 Superfortress chase plane during research and development taking place at the Convair plant at Forth Worth, Tex. The NB-36H was modified to carry a three-megawatt, air-cooled nuclear reactor in its bomb bay. This was the only known airborne reactor experiment undertaken by the U.S. with an operational nuclear reactor on board. Image courtesy of U.S. Defenseimagery.mil photo no. DF-SC-83-09332

[sig226]

I would rather they run them on vegetable oil than plutonium. Vegetable oil isn’t radioactive, nor is it toxic.

[BILL_C]

there were several stories I heard at Prototype of a nuclear powered airplane experiment in the Idaho Desert from Navy Nuclear Power training days. I believe I was told it only flew once or twice, a radcon nightmare if I remember correctly.

[Kirkwood]

I’m waiting for the liberals to say we need electric airplanes that are plugged in every night.

[JoeProBono]

[ConservativeByChoice]

Reminds me of my favorite Zippo from Dad’s collection... General Electric Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion.

[SunkenCiv]

Ultimately, they retrofitted the Convair B-36, a hybrid prop/jet-engine bomber weighing more than 400,000 pounds* (181,435 kilograms) and with a wingspan of 230 feet (70 meters), to house an air-cooled reactor in the aft bomb bay. Up front, the plane was outfitted with a 12-ton lead-and-rubber-shielded crew compartment. The atomic version of Convair's plane, called "Peacemaker," made 47 test flights over Texas and New Mexico between July 1955 and March 1957.

[parsifal]

Never knew there was such a thing. Knew they were trying atom bomb powered rockets for space.

parsy, who says live and learn