there is no reason not to explore this line of thinking, however, there would be an even greater likelihood that someone would want to steal a planes reactor to make some sort of bomb.
i think it would be safer to have the nuclear reactors and fuel on the ground and to somehow transmit that energy to the plane.
another option would be lightweight, high density batteries that can be charged in minutes. planes could then at first fly several hundred miles, touchdown, refuel and then take off without much time loss. CNT (carbon nanotubes) might produce batteries/capacitors that are upto the 'charge'.
i think it would be safer to have the nuclear reactors and fuel on the ground and to somehow transmit that energy to the plane.
another option would be lightweight, high density batteries that can be charged in minutes. planes could then at first fly several hundred miles, touchdown, refuel and then take off without much time loss. CNT (carbon nanotubes) might produce batteries/capacitors that are upto the 'charge'.