Nuclear Aero Engines

Yes that is correct the USA built and tested nuclear powered jet aircraft engines getting the reactor down from 10,000 Tons to 100 Tons.
In the short doco I watched today the U.S had 3 prototypes built and tested using air as a cooling medium quite a feat and was eventually cancelled in the very late 50's.

When you think of what they were playing with to get it down to a workable size is astonishing but the risks if it went south in the air was a big hurdle perhaps to big.
Apparently 2 still survive today and are on display somewhere in the USA now that would be something to see how smart are some people in the world.
And that was 63 years ago so how far have they come today makes the Tic Tacs not just a rumour as someones made a break through.
Remembering that Russia captured all the gear and scientists for Hitlers Flying Saucers that I think one flew around Jan 1945.

Some info here; Nuclear-powered aircraft - Wikipedia

One of the folies of the Nuclear race.
An interesting idea but really not practical. Just one of many Nuclear dreams!

I have an interesting document that was in a folder of aviation stuff that I picked up in a brocante. itshows a proposed design for a small Nuclear Reactor.

The project was from the Martin Company. the project was called TURPS (Terrerial Unattended Reactor Power system).
The system was 4 feet in diameter and 19 feet tall. Proposed 100 Kilowatts output. The reactor core was only 13 inches diameter and 13 inches length.
The main reactor part is buried with the generator section sticking out above ground.
The idea was to supply electrcial power to remote areas. Said to run for 5 years on one fuel load; and be easily transportable. The project was under contract to the US Air Force Special Weapons Center.
It was planned to be completed in 1970.

I'm assuming it got shelved.

The went the other way and designed a Nuclear sub as planes are apt to get shot out of the sky so the sub thing made better sense much harder to detect a N-sub.

And easier to hide possible accidents. Or, at least, to reduce the direct damage to people...
Imagine a simple accident with one of the N-planes crashing down in some densely populated area. Ouch!!!

There is no reason not to believe in nuclear powered planes. Technology might eventually manage them. Or spacecraft where weight isn't a restriction. Think on it a while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upvNlrT6zQE

Bob

According to another Martin Co fact sheet that I have; they already had nuclear power in 2 defence satellites in the early 60's.
The SNAP-9A Nuclear Generators . The info states that they have a service life of 5 years; but the that the satellite should stay in orbit for 900 years, by which time the nuclear material would be mostly decayed!
It is not a fission system; but converts heat from plutonium -238 directly into electricity by thermocouples.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daan Kemp

There is no reason not to believe in nuclear powered planes. Technology might eventually manage them. Or spacecraft where weight isn't a restriction. Think on it a while.

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I agree… now. In the mid to late fifties, I’m not too sure. I guess it would have been pretty darn risky.

And here it is. 5 Nuclear Things that Should Have Never Been Created - YouTube

I like this guys doco's been following him for a few years.