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Have you looked at Project Pluto? They built a working nuclear jet engine


I have not, but reading it now (thanks for the link) I maintain what I wrote (even though I got a lot of downmods): this is far too complicated to ever actually work.

Did you read the section on tolerances, and the temperatures? Do you really think such a thing would be reliable for day to day running on an airplane?

It's not impossible of course, but it's not practical, and it's a waste of money. Use the nuclear power on earth, and save the liquid fuels for the air.


No I don't think it would be a good idea for a whole bunch of reasons but it is possible with people having taken it to the prototype stage. Like you I'd spend the money on other things


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pluto

The ramjet lives on, but it's not nuclear powered, and don't they call it the 'scramjet' now?


A scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) is a variation of a ramjet with the distinction being that some or all of the combustion process takes place supersonically.

(from wikipedia on Scramjet)




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