archipeppe
ACCESS: Top Secret
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One of the most interesting subjects ever, the Convair NX-2 "Camal" was introduced in late '50s like a "atomic bomber", otherwise like atomic powered bomber as answer to hypotetical Soviet nuclear bomber (never materialized anyway).
The project had several twists during its history ranging from pure nuclear powered (through 4 GE XNJ-140) to mixed propulsion.
At first glance the aircraft appears more like a research and testbed vehicle rather than the prototype or even a demonstrator of future bomber. Its denomination "NX-2" is clearly off from the official USAF bomber number and tells more about experimentation (Nuclear eXperimental 2??, if so it should be intended like a successor of the X-6 or NX-1.....).
No bombs or payload bays showed by the drawings available and the four airmen crew hosted in a heavily shielded cockpit (like the NB-36H). Curiosily its configuration (canard + swept wing with huge winglets) seems to last a legacy into the various Burt Rutan light aircraft project of a decade later (Very Eze and other types).
The project had several twists during its history ranging from pure nuclear powered (through 4 GE XNJ-140) to mixed propulsion.
At first glance the aircraft appears more like a research and testbed vehicle rather than the prototype or even a demonstrator of future bomber. Its denomination "NX-2" is clearly off from the official USAF bomber number and tells more about experimentation (Nuclear eXperimental 2??, if so it should be intended like a successor of the X-6 or NX-1.....).
No bombs or payload bays showed by the drawings available and the four airmen crew hosted in a heavily shielded cockpit (like the NB-36H). Curiosily its configuration (canard + swept wing with huge winglets) seems to last a legacy into the various Burt Rutan light aircraft project of a decade later (Very Eze and other types).
