| NB-36H | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Convair NB-36 in flight, with a B-50. | |
| Role | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Convair B-36 |
| Developed into | Convair X-6 |
The Convair NB-36H was a bomber that carried a nuclear reactor. It was also known as the "Crusader".[1] It was built from a B-36 that had been damaged by a tornado. It was created for the Nuclear Powered Aircraft program, or the NPA, to show the feasibility of a nuclear-powered bomber. It ended with the cancellation of the NPA program, because eventually jet engines began to have greater range and reliability, eliminating the need for a nuclear-powered bomber.
Design and development[]
The NB-36H was built for the Nuclear Powered Aircraft (NPA) program. It was made from parts from a B-36 damaged by a tornado. The original crew and avionics cabin was replaced by a massive lead-lined 11 ton crew section for a pilot, copilot, flight engineer and two nuclear engineers.[1][2] As the rear section was unmanned, the engines and reactor were monitored via a television camera system. Power was supplied by six Pratt & Whitney propeller and four GE J47 jet engines. The reactor did not power any of the plane's systems, nor did it provide propulsion, but was placed on the NB-36 to verify that the plane could actually carry and run it in the air.[1]
Flight events[]
An underside view of the plane.
The NB-36 completed 47 test flights and 215 hours of flight time (during 89 of which the reactor was operated) between September 17, 1955, and March 1957[3] over New Mexico and Texas. The plane was also followed by several support planes. There was a hotline connected to the president's office.
Operators[]
Specifications[]
The NB-36H in flight. Note the 2 pods; each was mounted near the wingtips of the aircraft and both carried two GE J47 jet engines each.
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Length: 49.38m (162 ft 1in)
- Wingspan: 70.10m (230 ft)
- Height: 14.23m (46 ft 8in)
- Wing area: 4,770 ft² (443.3 m²)
- Loaded weight: 162,305 kg (357,500Ib)
- Powerplant:
- 4 × General Electric J47 turbojets, 5,200 Ib (23.1 kN) each
- 6 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-53 water-cooled radials, 3,800 hp (2,830 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 676 km/h (420 mph)
- Cruise speed: 270 mph
- Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,200 m)
See also[]
Related Development
Comparable Aircraft
- Convair B-36
- Tupolev Tu-119
- WS-125
References[]
- Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Convair NB-36H "The Crusader"". National Museum of the US Air Force. 2009-06-26. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2556. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ↑ Colon, Raul (2007-08-06). "Flying on Nuclear, The American Effort to Built a Nuclear Powered Bomber". The Aviation History Online Museum. http://www.aviation-history.com/articles/nuke-american.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ↑ Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Defense (February 1963). Report to the Congress of the United States – Review of manned aircraft nuclear propulsion program. The Comptroller General of the United States. p. 141. http://www.fas.org/nuke/space/anp-gao1963.pdf. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- Bibliography
- Winchester, Jim. "The World's Worst Aircraft". New York City, New York: Metro Books, 2005. ISBN 0-7607-6742-4
The original article can be found at Convair NB-36 and the edit history here.