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The Flying Reactor: America’s Terrifying Nuclear Airplane Experiment episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 6 MIN

The Flying Reactor: America’s Terrifying Nuclear Airplane Experiment

from History Capsules · host Daniele Rufo

Imagine a massive Cold War bomber flying at 15,000 feet with a live, operational nuclear reactor humming right behind the crew. It sounds like science fiction, but in the 1950s, the Convair NB-36H actually took to the skies.In this episode of History Capsules, we dive deep into the insane engineering, the catastrophic risks of a flying dirty bomb, and the terrifying orders given to the paratroopers escorting it. Why did the US military build it, and why did the project suddenly disappear? Hit play to find out!🌐 SUPPORT THE SHOW & USEFUL LINKS:📺 Watch our video documentaries on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1fs61uIh2D5qloVPvdysRQ🛡️ Protect your online privacy with NordVPN (Special Deal): https://nordvpn.sjv.io/VOBDMRIf you enjoyed this dive into forgotten military secrets, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a 5-star review, and share it with fellow history buffs!

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 11, 2026

What this episode covers

Imagine a massive Cold War bomber flying at 15,000 feet with a live, operational nuclear reactor humming right behind the crew. It sounds like science fiction, but in the 1950s, the Convair NB-36H actually took to the skies.In this episode of History Capsules, we dive deep into the insane engineering, the catastrophic risks of a flying dirty bomb, and the terrifying orders given to the paratroopers escorting it. Why did the US military build it, and why did the project suddenly disappear? Hit play to find out!🌐 SUPPORT THE SHOW & USEFUL LINKS:📺 Watch our video documentaries on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1fs61uIh2D5qloVPvdysRQ🛡️ Protect your online privacy with NordVPN (Special Deal): https://nordvpn.sjv.io/VOBDMRIf you enjoyed this dive into forgotten military secrets, make sure to follow the podcast, leave a 5-star review, and share it with fellow history buffs!

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How long is this episode of History Capsules?

This episode is 6 minutes long.

When was this History Capsules episode published?

This episode was published on June 11, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Imagine a massive Cold War bomber flying at 15,000 feet with a live, operational nuclear reactor humming right behind the crew. It sounds like science fiction, but in the 1950s, the Convair NB-36H actually took to the skies.In this episode of...

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