The Georgia Nuclear Aircraft Laboratory, also known as AFP No. 67, for Air Force Plant 67 was a
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
test facility located in the
Dawson Forest
Dawson Forest is a public-use forest located in Dawson County, Georgia, southwest of Dawsonville. It is owned by the city of Atlanta, but is considered a state forest, as it is managed by the Georgia Forestry Commission.
It was purchased in 19 ...
in
Dawsonville, Georgia
Dawsonville is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,536 at the 2010 census, up from 619 in 2000.
Dawsonville is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical A ...
. It was the site of
Lockheed's lab for investigating the feasibility of
nuclear aircraft
A nuclear-powered aircraft is a concept for an aircraft intended to be powered by nuclear energy. The intention was to produce a jet engine that would heat compressed air with heat from fission, instead of heat from burning fuel. During the Co ...
. The site was used for irradiating military equipment, as well as the forest to determine the effect of nuclear war, and its effects on wildlife. The area was closed in 1971 and acquired by the city of Atlanta for a second airport, but its topography was determined to be ill-suited for an airport. Documents explaining what went on at the site remain classified, and the entrance to the underground portion of the facility has been buried. The only objects left above ground were the concrete foundations on which the buildings and reactors were placed.
References
Dawson Forest City of Atlanta Tract – Then and NowGeorgia EPDWhen the Cold War Came to DawsonvilleDawson Forest - City of Atlanta TractLockheed Ad
External links
* Historical video footage o
Georgia Nuclear Laboratories (AFP No. 67)* Historical video footage o
Georgia Nuclear Laboratories (AFP No. 67) (YouTube)
Buildings and structures in Dawson County, Georgia
Military installations in Georgia (U.S. state)
Energy infrastructure in Georgia (U.S. state)
Research installations of the United States Air Force
Military installations closed in 1971
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