To the best of our knowledge this is the onLY privately owned RB108 outside museums

This really is a VERY RARE opportunity for a major museum or discerning private collector

This engine is very tidy and presentable.

Small, compact and Mounted on a swivel stand.

Ready to display in museum or business premises foyer

The Short SC.1 was the first British fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

The aircraft had x5 of these engines installed. X4 for vertical list and x1 for forward flight

Date Plate reads as Follows:

Rolls Royce

RB108

S/N: PS / 59

Engine Size: -Overall length 105cm Approx

-Diameter 45cm Approx

-Height of engine in stand 100cm Approx

-weight 150kg approx

Condition is as per the photos. 2x engine turbine blades are noted to be missing. Engine displays in a vertical position.

History:

The SC.1 was designed to meet a Ministry of Supply (MoS) request for tender for a vertical take-off research aircraft issued in September 1953. The design was accepted by the ministry and a contract was placed for two aircraft (XG900 and XG905) dated 15 October 1954.

The SC.1 was a single-seat low wing tailless delta wing aircraft. It was powered by four vertically mounted, lightweight Rolls Royce RB108 lift engines and one RB.108 cruise engine in the rear to provide thrust for forward flight. The Rolls-Royce RB.108 was a British Jet Engine designed in the mid-1950s by Rolls Royce specifically for use as a VTOLS lift engine, i.e., an engine intended primarily for providing upwards thrust rather than for horizontal propulsion.

XG900 Short SC.1 at the SBAC airshow in 1961, showing the oleo leg fairings and the lift engine automatic inlet louvres added in mid-1960.

The SC.1 was also equipped with the first “fly-by-wire” control system for a VTOL aircraft.

In common with other VTOL aircraft, the Short SC.1 suffered from vertical thrust loss due to the ground effect. Research into this on scale models suggested that for the SC.1 these losses would be between 15% and 20% at undercarriage height. Fixed undercarriage legs were designed specifically for vertical flight with each leg carrying a pair of castoring wheels (the rear undercarriage was also fitted with disc brakes). Long-stroke oleos were used to cushion vertical landings. The robust gear was able to withstand a descent rate of 18 ft per second.

Performance

Maximum speed: 246 mph (214 knots)

Range: 150 miles (130 NM)

Service ceiling: 8,000 ft (2,440 m)

Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)