Convair NB-36

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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.[2][1] 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. Though it was never needed, there was a direct hotline to the President's office set up in case of a nuclear accident on board the aircraft.[citation needed]

Operators

 United States

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

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Convair NB-36H "The Crusader"". National Museum of the US Air Force. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  2. ↑ Colon, Raul (2007-08-06). "Flying on Nuclear, The American Effort to Built a Nuclear Powered Bomber". The Aviation History Online Museum. Retrieved 2012-01-24. 
  3. ↑ 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. 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


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