WS-125
WS-125 | |
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![]() A cutaway drawing of the proposed WS-125 testbed aircraft | |
General information | |
Project for | Long-rangeNuclear-powered aircraftstrategic bomber |
Issued by | United States Air Force |
Requirement | WS-125 |
TheWS-125was an American super-long-rangestrategic bomberproject during theCold Warto develop anuclear-powered aircraft.
Development
[edit]In 1954, theUnited States Air Force(USAF) issued a weapons system requirement for a nuclear-powered bomber, designated WS-125. In 1956,General Electricteamed up withConvair(X211program) andPratt & WhitneywithLockheedin competitive engine/airframe development to address the requirement.[1]
In 1956, the USAF decided that the proposed WS-125 bomber was unfeasible as an operational strategic aircraft. Finally, after spending more than $1 billion, the project was cancelled on March 28, 1961.[citation needed]
Powerplants
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Nuclear_Jet_Engine_prototype%2C_INL.jpg/220px-Nuclear_Jet_Engine_prototype%2C_INL.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Aircraft_Reactors_Arco_ID_2009.jpg/220px-Aircraft_Reactors_Arco_ID_2009.jpg)
TwoGeneral Electric J87turbojet engines were successfully powered to nearly full thrust using two shielded reactors. Two experimental engines complete with reactor systems (HTRE-3andHTRE-1,which was modified and renamedHTRE-2) are located at theEBR-1facility south of theIdaho National Laboratory.
See also
[edit]- List of nuclear-powered aircraft
- Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion– U.S. project 1946–1961
- 9M730 Burevestnik(Russia)
- Project Pluto– US nuclear ramjet project, 1957–1964
- Convair NB-36H– American experimental plane (1955–61)
- Convair X-6– US proposed nuclear-powered plane (1950s)
Notes
[edit]- ^"Aviation History: The airplane that never was".aopa.org.January 1, 2018.Retrieved2024-04-18.
References
[edit]- Butler, Tony (2010).American Secret Projects.Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing.ISBN978-1-85780-331-0.