5 years ago, there was a discussion about a "quantum nucleonic reactor powered Global Hawk".Source: New Scientist - 19th February 2003 - Nuclear-powered drone aircraft on drawing board
t's a pity that the hafnium isomer nuclear battery concept turned out to be bunk.
For exemple L-212 was a bomber crew training variant of the L-12 Electra Junior...
Hi Orionblamblam,can you name the other air craft in your picture?
I wonder if radioisotope thermoelectric generators were considered as propulsion systems, maybe for light UAVs?
Quote from: fightingirish on July 07, 2008, 02:02:45 am5 years ago, there was a discussion about a "quantum nucleonic reactor powered Global Hawk".Source: New Scientist - 19th February 2003 - Nuclear-powered drone aircraft on drawing boardIt's a pity that the hafnium isomer nuclear battery concept turned out to be bunk. It's a neat neat... zap a hafnium isomer with Xrays and the isomer will release up to 60 times the energy; shut the Xrays off and the reaction stops, and you're left with a *non*radioactive chunk of metal. Tur the Xrays back on and it starts up again. A wonderful concept. That nobody was able to replicate. Sigh... more "cold fusion."