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"The World's Most Dangerous Airship!" It's filled with hydrogen, and it's nuclear powered. Probably doesn't even need the guns, since no one will want to shoot it down.
(The idea wasn't as farfetched as you might think. In 1956, someone actually thought up one: http://davidszondy.com/future/Fligh.....ic_airship.htm )
(The idea wasn't as farfetched as you might think. In 1956, someone actually thought up one: http://davidszondy.com/future/Fligh.....ic_airship.htm )
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The idea behind nuclear-powered aircraft was the same as a nuclear-powered ship; unlimited range, and removing the need to refuel for years. The problem was pretty obvious: they couldn't make an efficient enough engine without safely removing the threat of radioactive jet exhaust. Not to mention the problem of shielding the crew from radiation without making the plane so heavy that it's bombload would only ammount to a few hand grenades. In short, it was just too impractical, and far too dangerous, especially if it crashes.
Actually, the exhaust wasn't that great a problem. But the power-to-weight ratio and safety problems (not too mention price) are what really spelled the end of the project.
However, the project wasn't cancelled until the the test aircraft got >200 hours of flight time! Of course the reactor never powered the aircraft, and was only operational half the time, but thats beside the point. :)
However, the project wasn't cancelled until the the test aircraft got >200 hours of flight time! Of course the reactor never powered the aircraft, and was only operational half the time, but thats beside the point. :)
With nuclear power I'd put as many elecrtic fans as possible to fight with sidewinds. It wouldn't get dragged around.
Reminds me of a PC game "Crimson Skies". Creators set the time in alternative '30s and went wild with the style of their airplanes and airships. Here's the intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8eiA1jhXc
Reminds me of a PC game "Crimson Skies". Creators set the time in alternative '30s and went wild with the style of their airplanes and airships. Here's the intro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8eiA1jhXc
The 50's saw lots of insane attempts to use nuclear technology.
The Atomic Annie nuclear artillery gun, the Davy Crocket nuclear RPG, nuclear landmines. And it wasn't just the military at it, NASA had a shot at irradiating the world with Project Orion.
Orion was going to be a nuclear space craft that would launch from the ground, by dropping nukes out the back and detonating them in order to ride the shockwaves. Maybe that might have worked once you were in space and FAR from Earth, but launching from the ground would have meant detonating dozens of nukes in the atmosphere at increasing altitudes, spreading radioactive fallout over a vast area as a result.
On and then there were the planetary Engineering guys, who said they could use nukes to reshape the very planet itself to suit our needs, like flattening those inconvenient mountains, blasting bast holes in the ground to make new lakes. The Russians actually did try this BTW.
The funniest thing was how utterly nieve the scientists were in these projects. Funny? Maybe I should say scary
The Atomic Annie nuclear artillery gun, the Davy Crocket nuclear RPG, nuclear landmines. And it wasn't just the military at it, NASA had a shot at irradiating the world with Project Orion.
Orion was going to be a nuclear space craft that would launch from the ground, by dropping nukes out the back and detonating them in order to ride the shockwaves. Maybe that might have worked once you were in space and FAR from Earth, but launching from the ground would have meant detonating dozens of nukes in the atmosphere at increasing altitudes, spreading radioactive fallout over a vast area as a result.
On and then there were the planetary Engineering guys, who said they could use nukes to reshape the very planet itself to suit our needs, like flattening those inconvenient mountains, blasting bast holes in the ground to make new lakes. The Russians actually did try this BTW.
The funniest thing was how utterly nieve the scientists were in these projects. Funny? Maybe I should say scary
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