WS-125

WS-125
HTRE-3, a nuclear aircraft engine prototype at the Idaho National Laboratory.
Role	Long-range Nuclear-powered aircraft strategic bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Convair (X-6)
Status	Cancelled
Program cost	1 billion dollars +

The WS-125 was a proposed super long range strategic bomber, designed in the United States during the cold War as a Nuclear-powered aircraft and was scheduled to be named as B-72.

In 1954, the USAF issued a weapons system requirement for a nuclear-powered bomber, designated WS-125. In 1956, GE teamed up with Convair (X211 program) and Pratt & Whitney with Lockheed in competitive engine/airframe development to address the requirement.

In 1956, the USAF decided that the proposed WS-125 bomber was unfeasible as an operational strategic aircraft. Finally, after spending more than 1 billion dollars, the project was cancelled on March 28, 1961.

Powerplants

Experimental HTRE reactors for nuclear aircraft (HTRE-3 left and HTRE-1 right), on display at Idaho National Laboratory near Arco, Idaho

Two General Electric J87 turbofan engines were successfully powered to nearly full thrust using two shielded reactors. Two experimental engines complete with reactor systems (HTRE-3 and HTRE-1) are currently located at the EBR-1 facility south of the Idaho National Laboratory 43°30′42.22″N 113°0′18″W / 43.5117278°N 113.00500°W.

In popular culture

• The novel Steam Bird (1984) by Hilbert Schenck explored the possibilities if the WS-124/B-72 had actually been built and put in service.^[1]
• In the short story A Colder War by Charles Stross, USAF nuclear-engined bombers are deployed as a defense against supernatural threats.

See also

• Planes That Never Flew, Discovery Channel
• Project Pluto
• Nuclear-powered aircraft
• Convair NB-36H
• Convair X-6

References

1. Steam Bird at ISFDB

• Butler, Tony (2010). American Secret Projects. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-331-0.