Skylon and the Sabre Engine

[Eric Mc]

Does QinetiQ have any involvement in this? Or are they more focused on making money from land deals?

[CrutyRammers]

Eric Mc said:

Does QinetiQ have any involvement in this? Or are they more focused on making money from land deals?

Ooof, cutting

[hidetheelephants]

I doubt DSTL or Qinetiq have many personnel with turbine expertise; most probably bailed out for industry or retired when Pyestock was finally closed. They might be able to contribute on materials development though.

[DragsterRR]

We've had a perfect design just waiting since the 1960s.....

[Simpo Two]

Here's The Independent's in-depth report, zap kapow:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/uk...

[annodomini2]

FourWheelDrift said:

Doesn't sound like a lot of money though, but it's a start.

This will be to buy out one or more of the investors.

Government has put up £60m for the prototype engine development, with RE claiming they need £240m for the program.

Whether or not BAE invest remains to be seen.

[V8 Fettler]

Another concept from a couple of years ago

[Gargamel]

I wonder if they have thought about kickstarter?

[Simpo Two]

V8 Fettler said:

Another concept from a couple of years ago

Ah yes. It just shows you what optimism there was in the 1960s. Man on the moon, Concorde, everything was possible.

[hidetheelephants]

The US and USSR both looked at nuclear-powered aircraft, but thankfully thought better of it once AAR and ICBMs were perfected. Hopefully the molten salt technology spawned by the Aircraft Reactor programme will find its way into commercial nuclear power sooner rather than later.

[dr_gn]

hidetheelephants said:

The US and USSR both looked at nuclear-powered aircraft, but thankfully thought better of it once AAR and ICBMs were perfected.

I thought they were quietly shelved when they realised the crew would starve long before the engines stopped?

[hidetheelephants]

dr_gn said:

I thought they were quietly shelved when they realised the crew would starve long before the engines stopped?

The two heads/FLKs/acute radiation poisoning thing was likely to get them first; reactor shielding was one of the issues never adequately solved, even theoretically.

[BlackLabel]

The Sabre engine is in the news again.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/24/britis...

[Eric Mc]

What exactly is the "news" in that report?

[eldar]

Eric Mc said:

What exactly is the "news" in that report?

It isn't Brexit related?

[eharding]

Eric Mc said:

What exactly is the "news" in that report?

Buried in the text is the announcement that the CEO of the UK Space Agency is today announcing closer co-operation with Australia, with a view to eventually enabling 4 hour UK-Australia transits using Reaction Engines technology.

And yes, they *will* be having retractable palms trees next to the runway.

[Eric Mc]

Far more appropriate for Skylon than SpaceX

I've been following this project for over 30 years since its original inception as HOTOL.

Every two years or so there is some sort of press release about a new "business partner".

[AshVX220]

Eric Mc said:

Far more appropriate for Skylon than SpaceX

I've been following this project for over 30 years since its original inception as HOTOL.

Every two years or so there is some sort of press release about a new "business partner".

Sadly though, it never seems to get any closer to reality.

[Flooble]

Eric Mc said:

Far more appropriate for Skylon than SpaceX

I've been following this project for over 30 years since its original inception as HOTOL.

Every two years or so there is some sort of press release about a new "business partner".

Sadly "over 30 years" is being generous. It's pushing 40 :-(

[maffski]

To be fair there is progress.

They've ground tested the pre-cooler under supersonic heat loads and are working with DARPA to build a US test facility that will validate it under hypersonic conditions.

They're also working with Rolls-Royce to meld the pre-cooler to an EJ200 jet (MOD funding). If they can get it work with existing engine technology then the money worries are over.