Bell Nuclear Powered Helicopter

[hesham]

Hi,

the Bell Helicoptere Corporation designed a new concept
for atomic-powered VTOL transport helicopter,it had 300 ft
length,500,000 1b weight and estimated speed of 200 mph,
it was look like to me as flying ship.


http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1960/1960%20-%200793.html

 

[Orionblamblam]

I've posted a better - much beter - version of the art over at my blog. Enjoy, ya moochers...
;D

 

[Michel Van]

mmmh Atomic Helicopter...

i wonder how the engine works,
a Nuclear reactor heat water to steam how drive turbines, who connected to the rotors ?

 

[Jemiba]

A gearbox, as used in a "conventional" gasturbine driven heli ? ???

 

[Stargazer]

The designation of that project was D-1007, by the way. I have the date 1960 associated to it, although it could be a little earlier.

 

[moin1900]

Here the well known Bell D-1007
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2541.msg140316.html#msg140316

Here a Hughes study about nuclear powered helicopters
http://atomic-skies.blogspot.de/2012/09/apex-910-part-1.html

Here another study about a nuclear heavy-lift helicopter
Google Books Snippet View
-An Investigation of a Nuclear Powered Heavy-lift Helicopter Concept for Logistic Operations
-Andrew B. Witko, University of Michigan, 1958
-a unmanned ? remote controlled helicopter with seperate power-unit and cargo-unit ?

Igor Sikorsky study from 1955
-"The Transport Helicopter"
-Sikorsky proposed several methods for nuclear powered helicopters ?
-Separate passenger cabin or reactor hang on a cable under the helicopter. ?

Maybe someone knows these studies and could help ?

 

[masher47]

All I got..

 

[hesham]

We can merge those topics;

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/bell-atomic-powered-vtol-transport.2541/#post-140316

 

[hesham]

From Vertiflite 1959.

 

[moin1900]

BELL NUCLEAR POWERED HELICOPTER D-1007 ARTWORK

Bell nuclear powered helicopter – The Unwanted Blog

NUCLEAR POWERED HELICOPTERS by
BELL - SIKORSKY - HUGHES - ETC.

RELATED STUDIES AND ARTICLES

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF NUCLEAR POWERED FLYING CRANE by
Sullivan R.J. - HUGHES TOOL CO.
23 Oct. 1958
- direct cycle reactor
- rotor tip-jet drives
- nuclear geared turbine helicopter
- combination petroleum - nuclear powerplant

An Investigation of a Nuclear Powered Heavy-lift Helicopter Concept for Logistic Operations by Andrew B. Witko - 1958
- remote controlled heavy lift helicopter
- seperate power unit and seperate cargo unit
- 5240 shaft horsepower
- 11,5 MW reactor
- minimal shielding

TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS by
IGOR SIKORSKY, 1955
- engines operated by remote control
- reactor, turbines and rotors carried in one unit
- passengers and crew in seperate cabin suspended under the helicopter on a cable a couple of hundred feet long
- radioactive power unit would be landed some distance away from the passengers

AIR FORCE MAGAZINE
VOLUME 38, No.6
JUNE 1955
PAGE: 17
- SIKORSKY NUCLEAR HELICOPTER

SPACE / AERONAUTICS Magazine
Vol. 31 - 32
1959
Page: 28
"Feasibility studies on a giant nuclear-powered helicopter are being run for ARDC by Bell, Kaman and Vertol."

Source:

Google Books

Bookazine:
US Supersonic Bomber Projects Vol.2 by
Scott Lowther
Page: 32
Sidenote:
-- 1961 - ANP - NEW NAVAL APPLICATIONS - Convair nuclear powered cargo lifter helicopter --

 

[hesham]

Nice find my dear Moin1900,

but I can't get it,please give us a direct link,and it's new
for me to know that; Convair had a project for nuclear
powered helicopter ?!.