Napier Scorpion

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Scorpion

Scorpion
Country of Origin Britain
Manufacturer Napier
Application aircraft booster
Liquid-fuelled engine
Propellant hydrogen peroxide / kerosene
Performance
Thrust 4,000lbf (17.8kN)

Scorpion was a British liquid-fuelled rocket engine developed and manufactured by Napier. It used hydrogen peroxide / kerosene propellant chemistry. [1]

Double Scorpion

Double Scorpion
Application aircraft booster
Predecessor Scorpion
Liquid-fuelled engine
Propellant hydrogen peroxide / kerosene
Configuration
Chamber two
Performance
Thrust 8,000lbf (35.6kN)


From 1956 the Double Scorpion was fitted experimentally to two Canberra light bombers, to improve high altitude performance. [2]

A world altitude record of 70,300 feet (21,427 m) was set by Canberra WK163 on 28th August 1957. [3] This was of course, on the eve of cancellation of manned aircraft programmes by Sandys.

Triple Scorpion

Triple Scorpion
Application aircraft booster
Predecessor Scorpion
Liquid-fuelled engine
Propellant hydrogen peroxide / kerosene
Configuration
Chamber three, independently fired
Performance
Thrust 12,000lbf (53.4kN)


References

  1. ^ United Kingdom Aerospace and Weapons Projects: Rocket Engines. Skomer.
  2. ^ Compiled by Alan Vessey (1997). Napier Powered. Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-0766-X. 
  3. ^ "Napier Rocket Engines" (June 1957). The English Electric Journal.