Warplanes of the USA: Convair NB-36H Peacemaker

Convair NB-36H Peacemaker

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Convair NB-36H Peacemaker experimental aircraft (s/n 51-5712) and a Boeing B-50 Superfortress chase plane during research and development taking place at the Convair plant at Forth Worth, Texas (USA). The NB-36H was originally a B-36H-20-CF damaged at Carswell Air Force Base, also at Forth Worth, by a tornado on 1 September 1952. This plane was called the Nuclear Test Aircraft (NTA) and was redesignated XB-36H, then NB-36H, and was modified to carry a three megawatt, air-cooled nuclear reactor in its bomb bay. The reactor, named the Aircraft Shield Test Reactor (ASTR), was operational but did not power the plane. The NTA completed 47 test flights and 215 hours of flight time (during 89 of which the reactor was operated) between July 1955 and March 1957 over New Mexico and Texas. This was the only known airborne reactor experiment by the USA with an operational nuclear reactor on board. The NB-36H was scrapped at Fort Worth in September 1958 when the Nuclear Aircraft Program was abandoned.

The Convair NB-36H was an experimental aircraft that carried a nuclear reactor to test its protective radiation shielding for the crew, but did not use it to power the aircraft. Nicknamed "The Crusader", it was created for the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program (ANP for short), to show the feasibility of a nuclear-powered bomber. Its development ended with the cancellation of the ANP program.

The NB-36H completed 47 test flights and 215 hours of flight time (during 89 of which the reactor was operated) between 17 Sep 1955, and March 1957 over New Mexico and Texas. The test flights revealed, that with the shielding used, the crew would not be endangered by radiation from the reactor, including with low-altitude flights, but that there was a risk of radioactive contamination in the event of an accident. In 1957, at the end of its run of flight tests, the NB-36H was decommissioned and scrapped at Carswell. The nuclear reactor was removed. (Wikipedia)

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Convair NB-36H refitted to operate a nuclear reactor with the radiation symbol on the tail, 1956.

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Convair NB-36H nuclear test aircraft carrying 1-megawatt air-cooled reactor, circa 1956. Note the B-36H had a fuel capacity of 30,600 gallons (183,600 lbs).

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Convair NB-36H flying nuclear reactor testbed in flight. Note the 2 pods; each was mounted near the wingtips of the aircraft and both carried two GE J47 jet engines each.

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Convair NB-36H, the first aircraft to fly with an operating atomic reactor aboard, 6 Aug 1956.

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Convair NB-36H.

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Convair NB-36H.