Douglas Model 1875 Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Logistic Carrier (1955)

jzichek

jzichek

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Just put up a new article at RetroMechanix.com on these bizarre Douglas nuclear-powered transport studies which appear to use components of the C-133 Cargomaster:

5714090409_d220a53f01_o.gif


Features two hi res blueprints and 3 configurations; check it out! Details on them are limited, so if you have additional information, feel free to comment here or on the site.

-Jared
 
At least the latter had wheels under *one* side of the cargo pods...

Presumably both designs would have jacks under the pods to assist loading ??
 
Yes, the twin fuselage version certainly had a peculiar main gear arrangement. Jacks under the pods seem probable but I don't have further information on the designs to verify it. Does anyone have an idea what model of turboprop was likely used? It's pretty amazing that an aircraft of this scale had only two of them.

Nuclear-powered aircraft studies are some of the weirdest designs ever - they had to be huge to carry the reactor and shielding, and the crew had to be placed as far away from the reactor as reasonably possible, resulting in some very odd looking birds. I love 'em!
 
Have you been able to determine what the diameter of the propellers would have been? The things look huge in the drawings when compared to the fuselage.

Fishjay
 
The props were 28' in diameter, counter-rotating, 8 blades total per engine. Just developing the props alone probably would have cost a small fortune!
 
Was the "nuke" power-plant in the centerline-aerodynamic pod between the engines?

Randy
 
Yes; if you click and enlarge the blueprint (located at http://retromechanix.com/articles/aerospace/douglas-model-1875-aircraft-nuclear-propulsion-logistic-carrier-1955/?pid=1459), you can make out the dotted outline of the reactor, which is represented by a sphere.
 
I am curious - is the above drawing indicating that the aircraft was also able to be propelled by the nuclear turbine installation or is it simply a carrier platform?
 
IMHO. either a flying test bed or a enlarged C-133 Cargomaster carrying an exchange reactor and engine unit.
 
Why would it have intakes if it wasn't going to operate them in the air - and if it's operating those beasties they must be exhausting through the rear and creating thrust.

Regards,
Barry
 
Nuclear reactors cannot be turned on and off with a switch. Perhaps they needed to be cooled while they were transported.
 

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