ATOMIC ENERGY FOR AIRCRAFT

Chronicle (Levin), 24 February 1947, Page 5

ATOMIC ENERGY FOR AIRCRAFT

Press Assn.-

By Telegraph

•CQm/right

. i J^eepiyed s.uuday 8.15 p.m. NEW YOm, Feb. 22. * Tljip fir^t Amea'iean qttpmpt to apply atomic energy as a p,ropulsive ioree i'or aircraft, was quietfy begup. in July and is now v/ell under way, states the New Yorlt Tii&e^. The pr'o je.pt is, beipg carf'ied p.ut jpintfy by Federal (iovernraeut, Netipnal Adyisory Committee on Aer'onautics, Arrr\y Airforce and private industry. . The Oahridge atemie energy estfiblish.ment, s^yeral chemieal companies and ten aircrai't compauies. are wprking -under the direction of the Fatrchild Engine and Airplane Cpmpany which, is the fnain eohtractor tp the ^rmy Airforce, Research workers are investigating ad possi,ble appl.icatiops of nuclear energy to aircraft propuision including clos.ed and open eycle turbipes, turbo-jets, ramjets and roeket devices. The scientists are als,p studying the devel'opment of airframes to caryy atomic plants. It is uuderstoqd that Ihe b.asis of a design for applying atpinic energy to varipus types of engpies has been pstablished but the work has not yet reached the drawing bpard sfage. It is cpnsider- . ed certain that the first atomic powered plane will be ftown without a p.iioi hepnu.se the weight of a shield to protect the pjl.ot from radiation would make any piloted plane useless. It is th ought that the p.ower might bes't b,e used in guided missiles or dr°Pes g'uided by a mother plane. The range and speed of an atomic powered aircraft would -bp almost limitless. Oue kilogramme of pfutonium o,r uranipm 235, poteutially can generate 30,000,0,00 horsepow-er. This would give almost any speed desired to the limit of the strength ,of the materials used in the aircraft. ^