de Havilland Super Sprite

Engine overview:

The de Havilland Super Sprite, the first liquid-propellant rocket engine to have successfully completed a British Government Type-Approval Test, which was in full production for the Royal Air Force. The engine was fitted to the Vickers Valiant four-jet bomber within droppable containers. The Super Sprite rocket engine was used as a boost engine for the Vickers Valiant V-bomber and a pair were installed between the exhausts of the Ghost engines of the DH106 Comet 1 prototype for test purposes. The thrust was generated by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with a chemical catalyst.

Engine specifications:

Static Thrust: 4,000 lb

First engine delivered: April 1958

Number built: 166

Total duration: 40 s

View More Aircraft & Engines

de Havilland DH88 Comet Racer

De Havilland designed and built the DH88 Comet Racer in nine months as a response to a chance in winning an air race proposed by Sir MacPherson Robertson in October of 1934.

de Havilland DH106 Comet 2R

The Museum’s exhibit, XK695 was retired to the Imperial War Museum (IWM) Duxford in 1975 having completed flying 8,236 hours in over 3,200 flights. Because of excessive corrosion, it was dismantled in 1992. The surviving nose and front fuselage was donated to the Museum in 1995, by Hanningfield Metals in Essex. The supporting metal frame was sponsored by City Steel of St Albans.

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award

The de Havilland Aircraft Museum has qualified for Certificate of Excellence Hall of Fame from TripAdvisor because the Museum has earned a Certificate of Excellence every year since 2016.
The Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence was awarded to the de Havilland Aircraft Museum in recognition for Excellence in Hospitality.
As a recipient of this award, it means that our volunteers and staff have been recognized for delivering consistently great service, as defined by the reviews of travelers and visitors.
The recognition distinguishes the Museum from other attractions and gives visitors more reason to choose the de Havilland Aircraft Museum.

Hidden Gem!

Really enjoyed my first visit to this museum. Having spent the morning at the RAF museum in Hendon, I noticed that it was only a 15 minute drive to pop over to the De Havilland Aircraft museum so paying a visit was a no brainer. Very interesting exhibits, many of which have cockpit viewings on offer at no extra charge. This particular museum is home to my favourite jetliner, the Comet of which they have 4 on show! 1 being an original mark 1 full length fuselage (minus its wings) 2 are forward fuselage sections which are displayed outside and the final is the empty shell of another forward fuselage section which has been farmed for parts to help with the refurbishment of the Comet 1. Many other interesting aircraft, engines and weapons on display and a very well stocked shop and cafe, ample free parking and accessible toilets. The best part of my visit was meeting some of the lovely stewards who look after the museum. I had several very informative conversations and learnt a few things I didn’t know before. Great bunch a guys and a museum that I will definitely be visiting again and would highly recommend to others.

TripAdvisor Jun 2021

de Havilland Aircraft Museum, Salisbury Hall, London Colney, Hertfordshire, AL2 1BU

Registered Under Charities Act 1960. No. 286794

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