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Oh yes, any Atomic Powered airplane of the future would have to be serviced by mechanics sealed inside a forty ton lead coffee can using huge clumsy robot arms. [Only worked in an artist's drawing]
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Check out the 'comment' from Bill Higgins which gives detailed info on monster robots for handling radioactive airplanes!

3 comments:

  1. And they had people working on this.

    See the "Beetle," built by General Electric for the U.S. Air Force Special Weapons Center for the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program.

    images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5d568e f257897691

    images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=3ef9d2 714ce9b28f

    images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=7b4942 2802597b1a

    images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=1a2744 d25698e3d2

    images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=c44c6e a375ecec0b

    Here's a 1963 technical report on the Beetle (along with a couple of less-impressive shielded vehicles):
    http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=AD402748&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

    An Analog article, pointing out its similarity to a Heinlein story:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/caliban_nice/3333921276/

    Popular Science had a nice article on it in May 1962:
    http://books.google.com/books?id=EiEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a photographer, you may be interested in this pair of photos:

    1. A smiling model in a bathing suit, posing with the Beetle:

    http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=d4defff0fc738da0

    Note the tracks on the pavement left by the tractor treads.

    2. A reverse angle shot, showing gentlemen of the press:

    http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=39a93f697f91a0ea

    That's right-- all the photographers, engineers, and PR men are wearing cozy warm overcoats and hats, and there is AN INCH OF SNOW ON THE GROUND!

    One can only admire the professionalism of the smiling model, and hope that her high heels keep her toes warm.

    ReplyDelete