Rocket engine, made for Blue Steel Mk 1 rocket

This liquid propellant rocket engine, Stentor, was made in 1963 by Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd. for the Blue Steel Mk 1 air-launched nuclear missile. This engine could propel the Blue Steel to speeds exceeding Mach I (742 mph at mean sea level). The Stentor had two exhaust outlets, the larger of the two would fire first and accelerate the missile to supersonic speeds then shut down, the smaller maintaining the pocket at a constant speed, until its terminal descent.

The engine comprises two combustion chambers linked to the turbo pump mechanisms. In essence it is two separate engines designed to give varying amounts of power throughout the missile's flight regime. It is marked 'BRISTOL SIDDELEY ENGINES LTD / ASSt 1 - 2 NUMBER 51 MR467 // STENTOR'.

Avro Blue Steel air-launched nuclear missiles were carried by Avro Vulcans and Handley Page Victor bombers. One round wold be carried by each aircraft. The fuel used by the Stentor engine was High Test Peroxide (HTP), comprising a lethal combination of Hydrogen Peroxide and other assorted chemicals. Special suits had to be worn by the handling personnel when fuelling the Blue Steel because HTP would burn way any organic material it came into contact with. If spilt whilst fuelling took place, it would be neutralised by copious amounts of water.

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