NASA's nuclear VTOL transport

[DamienB]

Here's one from a NASA design study dating back to 1968:



Cruise speed of mach 0.8 at 36,000 ft or so and all up weight of 1 million lb, to be operated as a city hopper using 'vertiports', also suitable for military missions such as long range SAR. Turbofan engines underwing with lift fans powered by the nuclear reactor giving the VTOL capability. Radiation does to the crew of 0.025 rem/hour, a bit higher for passengers as they'd be sitting nearer the reactor. Overall dimensions approximate those of the C-5A Galaxy.

[ysi_maniac]

Quite interesting project!
Thanks for posting.

[NARSES2]

I've always struggled with the idea of nuclear powered aircraft. The reactor generates steam which in turn drives the turbine which in turn propells the aircraft - is that correct ? So really it's a steam engined aircraft ?

[Hobbes]

Not quite. The design they were working towards in the NB-36 program used air instead of steam: the reactor would heat the air, and the hot air drove the turbine, then exited the aircraft. Other designs were considered as well, with more elaborate heat transfer.

more info: http://www.aviation-history.com/articles/nuke-american.htm

[nev]

Hello Damien, not seen you round here for a while.

Interesting concept, I wonder what they were planning to transport?  For some reason I though of the Mil V-12 and its proposed role of moving around tactical nuke TELs.....

C-xxx based at RAF Greenham Common in Euro1 camo....

[NARSES2]

Not quite. The design they were working towards in the NB-36 program used air instead of steam: the reactor would heat the air, and the hot air drove the turbine, then exited the aircraft. Other designs were considered as well, with more elaborate heat transfer.

more info: http://www.aviation-history.com/articles/nuke-american.htm

Cheers Harro - I'm afraid my "O" level physics can't quite grasp the Principal of "superheated air". I'll have to re-read the chapter in a book I have on 50/60's aircraft which talks about the NB-36.