WAITING FOR THE FERRY

Are There More Original Nuclear Ferry Diagrams?

 

Ever since Bill B posted his origin of the Nuclear Ferry - the Ling Temco Vought [LTV] Nuclear Ferry four years ago, I have tried to find more information about their concept. I'm sad to say the trail's gone cold. To remind readers what the LTV Nuclear Ferry looked like I have simplified the drawing in Bill's original post. It's easy to see how this was probably the basis for Robert McCall's famous LIFE magazine painting of the vehicle, but I feel sure that NASA must have given him more diagrams to work with. But where are they? Any help would be gratefully received.

 

 

The full article, which appeared in Bill's original post is pictured below.

 

I did manage to find this photograph of the LTV staff from 1967 posing in front of one of their rocket designs.

Looking for the Nuclear Ferry inevitably brings you to Robert McCall's fantastic painting in LIFE. Over the years we've found out when he painted the original, where it's hung and drooled over the fabulous use of it in the US's LIFE and UK's Look and Learn Magazines. For those readers who haven't yet had a look at the LIFE Nuclear Ferry I found this copy of the whole magazine on Google books. Enjoy!