Convair X-6
| X-6 | |
|---|---|
| A Convair NB-36H, the type of aircraft used for testing | |
| General information | |
| Type | Experimental aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| Status | Canceled |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | No units built |
| History | |
| First flight | Not flown |
| Developed from | Convair B-36 |
The Convair X-6 was an experimental aircraft project to develop and evaluate a nuclear-powered jet aircraft. Experiments were carried out on a testbed aircraft named Convair NB-36H, based on the B-36 bomber. The program was canceled before the actual X-6 and its nuclear reactor engines were completed. The X-6 was part of a larger series of programs that ran from 1946 through 1961, and cost 7 billion USD. The basic idea was that nuclear-powered strategic bombers would be able to stay airborne for weeks at a time, as their range would not be limited by liquid jet fuel.