Napier Scorpion
Napier NScD.1 Double Scorpion

Double Scorpion

The Napier Scorpion was a British liquid-fuelled rocket aircraft booster engine developed and manufactured by Napier. It used hydrogen peroxide / kerosene propellant.

The first Scorpion NSc.1 was successfully flight-tested in a Canberra.

From 1956 the Double Scorpion NScD.1 was fitted experimentally to two Canberra light bombers, to improve high altitude performance. A world altitude record of 70,300 feet (21,427 m) was set by Canberra WK163 on 28 August 1957.
 
This was on the eve of cancellation of manned aircraft programmes by the 1957 Defence White Paper.

The Scorpion project was cancelled in February 1959, at a reported total cost of £1.25 million.

Specifications:

Scorpion
Propellant: hydrogen peroxide / kerosene
Thrust: 4,000 lbf (17.8 kN)

Double Scorpion
Propellant: hydrogen peroxide / kerosene
Chamber: two
Thrust: 8,000 lbf (35.6 kN)
Length: 856mm (33.7in)
Diameter: 584mm (23in)
Dry weight: 98kg (216lb)

Triple Scorpion
Propellant: hydrogen peroxide / kerosene
Chamber: three, independently fired
Thrust: 12,000 lbf (53.4 kN)