Unlimited Wings

Ever since airpower became a factor in modern warfare, military strategists have dreamed of a warplane with no practical limit to its cruising range. Even when physicists scoffed, the dreamers started investigating atomic power as a feasible power source. This week there were new indications the U.S. is moving closer than dreams to building an atom-powered aircraft.

Awarded by the Air Force to Lockheed Aircraft Corp. and Convair Division of General Dynamics Corp. were competitive contracts for the development of air frames capable of carrying atomic engines. Lockheed will conduct its program at a giant new installation in Georgia; Convair will continue work at its Fort Worth plant, where it began such research in 1951. The winner of the competition will presumably get a production contract.

How far along General Electric and Pratt & Whitney are in their work on nuclear power plants for the craft, the Defense Department is not saying. But the new contracts indicate that the troublesome weight problem--elaborate radiation protection is needed for the crews--may be whipped, or nearly so. Another sign: the Air Force plans to construct a multimilliondollar, 15,000-ft.-long runway at the National Reactor Testing Station near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Its probable use: testing of atom-powered aircraft.

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