Discovery Channel - Nuclear Airplane - Part 2 -

The Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program researched and developed two main systems of nuclear powered jet engines. The Direct Air Cycle program was the first of these. Developed by General Electric, this facet of the program was based in Evendale, Ohio. The Direct Air Cycle program was popular because it was simple, reliable and suitable and the engines were able to start quickly. It worked by letting compressed air run through the reactor of a conventional jet engine where it could be heated before being exhausted through the turbine. The X-39 engine was produced by this program and it proved to be highly successful with several upgrades made to the system at later stages. The final HTRE-3 would have most likely been used to power the X-6 nuclear propulsion aircraft if the project hadnt been scrapped.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Discovery
• channel
• airplane
• air
• nuclear
• engine
• jet
• reciprocating
• x-39
• propulsion
• program
• documentary
• aviation
• plane
• fly
• flew
• never

[gruzitect]

@dodanimal Anythings possible in theory. Its a good thing they tested it. If we didn't test anything and had no new Ideas we'd still be in the dark ages son :/

[carlogwapo1234]

adolf hitler use nuclear energy to fly hes UFO before it was cool..

[YoungJim409]

Not overcoat, overcast. Interesting program, that aside.

[danielkerkotchian]

@mgibbs88 no its electric

[dodanimal]

Nuke-powered airplanes? LOL. OMG what a STUPID idea. Only the military would waste $billions on this garbage.

[heatkid321]

HAHA THEY SAID U.S MARINES!! not Army Paratroopers not Army Rangers BUT U.S MARINES!! OO-RAH!!!

[jaysonesoro]

hmm thats werid an atomic aircraft if that thing is on from past up to today i hope we got a jet can fly at sea even an aircraft carrier is overload

of squadron

[NYFlyer1]

@mgibbs88 Yes, there will still be a turbine. The turbine will run the compressor, just like any normal jet engine we have today. The difference between a direct cycle nuclear engine and modern jet engines is the fact that the heat added through the combustor is replaced with the heat added from the nuclear reactor. They will still operate on the standard Brayton cycle.

[mgibbs88]

Does a nuclear jet engine have turbines?

[samanatorrules]

FIRS..... oh wait, i dont like justin beiber