1. The navy did fund Dr Bussard’s research for a while. But the government has stopped funding all fusion projects except tokamaks.
2. This technology does have waste heat. We believe that its overall efficiency will be on the order of 43%. That’s less waste heat than most heat engines, but still significant.
3. The first molten salt reactor (still my favorite design) fission reactor was designed and built with the aim of powering an aircraft.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge proponent of this technology. But you should know that some of these avenues have been explored. And exhausted.