Lockheed 1979 NuCMCA (Nuclear-powered Cruise Missile Carrier Aircraft)
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Sentinel Chicken
American 71 Heavy, contact departure 126.47
I'm surprised that there was work still being done on nuclear-powered aircraft as late as 1979. I was always under the impression that the NB-36H experience more or less showed the logistical and technical difficulties of such a system.
This Lockheed design looks a lot like a future transport aircraft that I remember seeing in various books in the early 1980s. Were the engines on this proposed nuclear version closed cycle or open cycle?
This Lockheed design looks a lot like a future transport aircraft that I remember seeing in various books in the early 1980s. Were the engines on this proposed nuclear version closed cycle or open cycle?
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Non-recuperated closed Braiton cycle was prefered, but open base Brayton cycle was selected due to more experimental base available. Alternative study was on gas-cooled reactor coupled to a Bi-Braiton energy transport and power conversion system employing dual-mode turbofan engines.
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Much the same energy cycle was considered earlier in the decade for a nuclear-powered dirigible with two turbofans and one huge turboprop (it used helicopter blades as prop blades). I remember seeing this in AIAA magazines or papers of the period and it did appear in at least one techno-thriller from 1976 or so.
Sorry to necropost, but I find this aircraft concept to be very interesting and I have many questions about it.
Did the SALT II Treaty of June 18, 1979 cause this program to be cancelled? I presume that these aircraft would loiter outside of Soviet airspace and then launch their cruise missiles.
How would the nuclear power plant of this aircraft supposed to work?
Did the SALT II Treaty of June 18, 1979 also kill the idea of modifying commercial airliners as ALCM carriers? Or was the fear that commercial airliners might be shot down accidently because they were believed to be military aircraft?
Did the SALT II Treaty of June 18, 1979 cause this program to be cancelled? I presume that these aircraft would loiter outside of Soviet airspace and then launch their cruise missiles.
How would the nuclear power plant of this aircraft supposed to work?
Did the SALT II Treaty of June 18, 1979 also kill the idea of modifying commercial airliners as ALCM carriers? Or was the fear that commercial airliners might be shot down accidently because they were believed to be military aircraft?
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Don't think the cancellation (better, no further activity) is unrelated to large political decision. In 1977-80 time span there was a flurry of activity in the US on very unconventional flying things: spanloaders, very heavy lift, nuclear, flatbeds, etc.
There is a report on DTIC (plus the usual reports on the AIAA site) on NuMCA.
There is a report on DTIC (plus the usual reports on the AIAA site) on NuMCA.
If this aircraft had gone into production, would it have been given a B designation for bomber? Or would ALCM carriers have been given a new designation?
Skybolt said:
I've been noticing that a *lot* recently. A lot of reports that I've misplaced on my hard-drive somewhere, so easy solution is to jsut re-download it. And SURPRISE! It's gone.
It's Obama's new era in governmental transparency, I tell ya...
Is this the NuMCA report that was missing from the DTIC?
Innovative Aircraft Design Study. Task II. Nuclear Aircraft Concepts by John C Muehlbauer et al, Lockheed-Georgia Co Marietta, April 1977
Abstract:
Innovative Aircraft Design Study. Task II. Nuclear Aircraft Concepts by John C Muehlbauer et al, Lockheed-Georgia Co Marietta, April 1977
Abstract:
http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADB017795
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Merging duplicate topics.
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