The Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig, nicknamed the Flying Bedstead, was an experimental vertical take-off research aircraft built at Hucknall in the early 1950s. Two Nene turbojets were mounted back to back in a tubular steel frame on four legs, with no wings, so that thrust alone lifted it, and compressed air jets at four outriggers controlled roll, pitch and yaw. Alan Arnold Griffith conceived the concept. The first rig flew tethered on 19 August 1953 and free on 3 August 1954; it then went to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, where a second rig was lost in 1957. The work led to the RB108 lift engine, and the first rig is in the Science Museum.
Facts
Engine Class Maximum Mass (kg) Engine2 x Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal-flow turbojet 1 Comparison
Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
Exemplifies
Source Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig (Wikipedia)
Development
On 19 August 1953, the first TMR Serial XJ314 conducted its maiden flight at Hucknall Aerodrome.
Lead
was a pioneering vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft developed by Rolls-Royce in the 1950s
Lead, engine class
It was powered by a pair of Nene turbojet engines
Specifications
Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal-flow turbojet engines, 4,050 lbf (18.0 kN) thrust each
Specifications, mass
Empty weight: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
Specifications, maximum mass
Gross weight: 7,500 lb (3,402 kg)
Development, units built
two were constructed for the test program
Aircraft on display
The first machine (Serial XJ314) is preserved and on public display at the Science Museum in London, England.
Development, country of origin
Rolls-Royce commenced construction of the aircraft at the company's facility at Hucknall Aerodrome, Nottinghamshire, England.
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