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Is Lockheed Martin working on a nuclear fusion-powered fighter jet?
If the latest patent from defence manufacturing giant Lockheed Martin is anything to go by, nuclear fusion technology could revolutionise the future of travel. (www.siliconrepublic.com) Mehr...
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Why not? The "Skunk Works" can do anything, given enough money. By the way, the NB-36H did carry a nuclear reactor one time as dead weight. It was not capable of being a reactor during the flight and it should be telling that it was never tried again. Time and technology has changed the equation now. Just maybe.
It most certainly was a functioning reactor in flight, it just didn't power anything, such as any form of propulsion.
It was a proof-of concept to see if they could fly a reactor, some say at least in part because the Navy had shown it could put them in subs and the USAF said, "Oh yeah?"
Besides the difficulties in making a reactor actually propel an aircraft, a major concern was what happens if it crashes? Test flights flew over Dallas-Fort Worth when they took off and approached to land and if a standard B-36 could crash (and some did in the area around the factory and the B-36 wing at the same airfield), so could the NB-36H.
Out of 385 B-36s built, 32 were written off in accidents. While not all 32 were crashes, would you want any of them to have involved the NB-36H?
It was a proof-of concept to see if they could fly a reactor, some say at least in part because the Navy had shown it could put them in subs and the USAF said, "Oh yeah?"
Besides the difficulties in making a reactor actually propel an aircraft, a major concern was what happens if it crashes? Test flights flew over Dallas-Fort Worth when they took off and approached to land and if a standard B-36 could crash (and some did in the area around the factory and the B-36 wing at the same airfield), so could the NB-36H.
Out of 385 B-36s built, 32 were written off in accidents. While not all 32 were crashes, would you want any of them to have involved the NB-36H?
You are correct sir. All together its a fascinating story from the Cold War era. Another leftover from the project is still visible if you look to the West at the I40-I75 split West of Knoxville, TN. You'll see the twin towers erected at Oak Ridge to test the operation and radiation levels from a nuclear reactor suspended off the ground before actual airborne tests were done.
It will be heavy, can't turn, can't run, more than 17 years in development with a lot of cost overrun, and claimed as "combat ready" with more than 200 critical issues.
Jokes aside, it will be super heavy. In fusion reactors yes you nolonger need a cumbustion chamber, but you still need a fuel tank and magnets for controling that ball of plasma in a reactor.
The greatest obstetrical in jet engines is how to prevent combustion chamber and down steam components from melting.
Jokes aside, it will be super heavy. In fusion reactors yes you nolonger need a cumbustion chamber, but you still need a fuel tank and magnets for controling that ball of plasma in a reactor.
The greatest obstetrical in jet engines is how to prevent combustion chamber and down steam components from melting.
Lockheed (before it was Lockheed Martin) took over General Dynamics which, back in the day, had taken over Convair, which had been Consolidated Aircraft, which had developed the B-36 Peacemaker. Maybe someone was clearing out old files in the engineering office and found the proposal that led to the NB-36H and decided they can do something like that, too.
