De Havilland Super Sprite Rocket Engine
- Made:
- circa 1949 in Hatfield
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License
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
De Havilland Super Sprite engine, no. 126. The Sprite was developed by De Havilland as an assisted take off unit for the Comet 1 aeroplane. The complete engine was first fired in 1949 and flight trials began in 1951. The engine used hydrogen peroxide as fuel and is capable of producing 2,270kg of thrust.
De Havilland Super Sprite no. 126. The Sprite rocket engine was developed as an assisted take-off unit for the Comet airliner. Early jet engines, such as those used by the Comet, were relatively inefficient when taking off from high altitude airports and benefited from rocket assistance. The Sprite's thrust was generated by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with a chemical catalyst.
Details
- Category:
- Aircraft Propulsion
- Object Number:
- 1962-104
- Materials:
- metal (unknown)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 1490 mm x 840 mm x 3120 mm,
- type:
- aircraft, aeroplanes and aeroengine
- credit:
- Ministry of Aviation
