Atomic Powered Aicraft

The only US aircraft to carry a nuclear reactor was the NB-36H. The program was canceled in 1958. Under new regulations cabin-pressurized civil aircraft have to be submitted to water-tank tests to determine their safe metal-fatigue life. ln
this drawing, we show one of the new Bristol Britannia turbo-prop airliners undergoing this test. The wings, protruding from the sides of the tank, are subjected to up and down stresses by a system of hydraulic Jacks. Three stages of testing are continued for the equivalent of 20,000 flying hours, and all stresses are carefully recorded by scientific instruments.

Each selected pair has been twined to give a pleasing picture to be displayed with an A4 or A3 printed size, large enough to read the small Eagle Centrespread text.