Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!cbnews!military
From: jwm@stda.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Nuclear Powered Planes: Feasibility?
Message-ID: <11493@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 17 Nov 89 06:10:17 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: JHU-Applied Physics Laboratory
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: jwm@stda.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt)
}From: pierson@cimnet.dec.com
}There were other problems, providing adequate shielding for crew, surrounding
}population (near the base...), and turning the power from the reactor into
}useful thrust.  Most systems for THAT seemed to involve multiple conversions of
}the energy (and hence, inefficiency).  I have a "fun" book (title escapes 
}me...) from the late '50s/early '60s that was a quasi governmental public
}relations effort for the program.  A good library, or luck in a used book 
}store is recommended.

See "Nuclear Flight".  I don't recall the author.  One of the more interesting
problems was protecting the ground crew.  The plane could heft the
shadow shielding for the crew, but the surroundings were irridiated.

}The "mission" was also unclear, bar just doing the plane for the challenge, 
}and because this was the era of the nuclear powered rocking chair (almost).
}The ability for a strategic force to be on-the-air "constantly" avoiding being
}hit on the ground, and the elimination fuel problems on strategic missions
}come to mind.

Turns out you can make a real, real fast and real real small aircraft carrier
with the same dimensions.  A few fighters anywhere fast...

-- 
"In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain"
					- Pliny the Elder
These were the opinions of :
jwm@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu  - or - jwm@aplvax.uucp  - or - meritt%aplvm.BITNET