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!
And they had people working on this.
ReplyDeleteSee 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
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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
... fascinating, thanks!
ReplyDeleteAs a photographer, you may be interested in this pair of photos:
ReplyDelete1. 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.