Convair NB-36

The Convair NB-36H was a bomber that carried a nuclear reactor. It was also known as the "Crusader". 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. 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.

Flight events


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 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

 * United States Air Force
 * United States Air Force