Bristol Thor

The Bristol Thor, latterly Bristol Siddeley BS.1009 Thor, was a 16" diameter ramjet engine developed by Bristol Aero Engines (later Bristol Siddeley Engines) for the Bristol Bloodhound anti-aircraft missile.

Although Bristol Aero Engines acquired ramjet technology from the US company Marquardt, BAE put considerable effort into developing the Thor unit, including the construction of a high altitude test plant (HATP), with a supersonic test cell, at their Patchway site.

The Bloodhound Mk.1 could attain a speed of Mach 2.2, while the Mk.2 was capable of just over Mach 2.7.

Manufacturer tag of Bristol Thor ramjet engine

Variants

BT.1 Thor

BT.2 Thor

BT.4 Thor

BS.1009 Thor

Specifications (BT.2 Thor)

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

• Type: Ramjet
• Length: 103.9 in (2,639 mm)
• Diameter: 15.75 in (400 mm)
• Dry weight:

Components

• Compressor:

Performance

• Maximum thrust: (BT.1) - 5,275 lbf (23 kN) at M2.0 at sea level^[2]
• Specific fuel consumption: 2.5 lb/lbf-hr (254.84 kg/kN-hr) at full thrust at sea level
• Power-to-weight ratio:

Notes

References