[nsxwolf]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Nucleon

[astrodust]

The batshit insane nuclear products of the 1950s never cease to blow my mind. I'm still discovering new ones, like how the US built not one but two different kinds of nuclear powered aircraft, neither of which proved to be viable in the end for reasons that should have been blindingly obvious.

[nsxwolf]

The idea of a B-36 nuclear bomber loitering around for potentially years and years without landing is awesome and terrifying.

[astrodust]

Given that one of the aircraft designs had the reactor exposed to ambient air, you probably don't want that.

The idea was that after they dropped the bombs they'd simply fly around over enemy territory just to spew radioactive garbage all over the country.