Home > Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig

The Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig was a pioneering vertical take-off and landing aircraft developed by Rolls-Royce in the 1950s. The TMR used two Nene turbojet engines mounted horizontally within a steel framework raised upon four legs with castors for wheels. The TMR had no lifting surfaces (wings, blades, etc.) and was understandably nicknamed the Flying Bedstead.

The output of the jets was directed towards the centre of the rig with one jetpipe discharging downwards through a central nozzle while the other jet discharged downwards through two smaller nozzles on either side. Two arms were extended out the side of the rig through which compressed air was released for control in flight. The purpose of the rig was, as the name suggests, to test turbojet engines for lifting purposes and to develop techniques for controlling such an aircraft.

The man largely responsible for the development of the TMR was Dr Alan Arnold Griffith who had worked on gas turbine design at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in the 1920s and was a pioneer of jet lift technology. Griffith was employed by Rolls-Royce in 1939.

Two Thrust Measuring Rigs were built with the first taking to the air on 3 July 1953This is a list of aviation-related events from 1953: Events The first year in which the world's airlines carried more than 50 million people ( ICAO statement, 29 December) January January 26 The first meeting of the Experimental Aircraft Association takes though it remained tethered to the ground while airborne. The first free flight by the TMR was made on 3 August 1954This is a list of aviation-related events from 1954: Events January January 10 a BOAC de Havilland Comet crashes into the Mediterranean Sea near Elba with the loss of all 35 people aboard. April April 1 Last operational flight by a RAF Spitfire, a photo-r with R.T. Shepherd , Rolls-Royce's chief test pilot, at the controls.

Following successful trials of the TMR, Rolls-Royce began development of the Rolls-Royce RB108 direct-lift turbojet, five of which were used to power the first true British VTOL aircraft, the Short SC.1 .

1 Specifications

1.1 General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: ft in ( m)
• Width: ft in ( m)
• Height: ft in ( m)
• Empty: 6,000 lb (2,720 kg)
• Loaded: 7,500 lb (3,400 kg)
• Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)
• Powerplant: 2x Rolls-Royce Nene, 4,050 lb (18 kN) thrust each

1.2 Performance

• Thrust-to-weight: 1.08:1

2 Trivia

• X-15The North American X-15 rocket plane was perhaps the most important of the USAF/ USN X-series of experimental aircraft. Although not as famous as the Bell X-1, the X-15 set numerous speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of space pilot and future Apollo 11The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned lunar landing. It was the fifth manned mission in the Apollo program. That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind. Neil Armstrong Crew Neil Armstrong (2), commander (and first to walk on the moo commander Neil ArmstrongAstronaut Profile Selection Date: 1962 Position:Commander Retirement Date: 1969 Time in Space:8/14:10 Missions Gemini 8, Apollo 11 Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5, 1930) is an American test pilot, astronaut, and the first person to walk on the Moon. was nearly killed when a flying bedstead went out of control and crashed.