Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions'

Re:Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions' by z303 on Monday October 27, 2008 @02:14PM (#345341)

Have you looked at Project Pluto? They built a working nuclear jet engine

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Re:Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions' by ars on Monday October 27, 2008 @05:26PM (#345616)

I have not, but reading it now (thanks for the link) I maintain what I wrote (even though I got a lot of downmods): this is far too complicated to ever actually work.

Did you read the section on tolerances, and the temperatures? Do you really think such a thing would be reliable for day to day running on an airplane?

It's not impossible of course, but it's not practical, and it's a waste of money. Use the nuclear power on earth, and save the liquid fuels for the air.

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Re:Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions' by z303 on Tuesday October 28, 2008 @08:14AM (#346230)

No I don't think it would be a good idea for a whole bunch of reasons but it is possible with people having taken it to the prototype stage. Like you I'd spend the money on other things

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Re:Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions' by josefresco on Monday October 27, 2008 @02:32PM (#345372)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto

The ramjet lives on, but it's not nuclear powered, and don't they call it the 'scramjet' now?

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Re:Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions' by hugh on Monday October 27, 2008 @04:37PM (#345550)

A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is a variation of a ramjet with the distinction being that some or all of the combustion process takes place supersonically.

(from wikipedia on Scramjet)

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