Reaction Motors XLR11

Development of XLR11 rocket engine began in 1944 at Reaction Motors, Inc.

Each of the four combustion chambers produced 1500 lbf (6.7 kN) of thrust. The engine was not throttleable but each chamber could be turned on and off individually.

The XLR11 was used in the Bell X-1, the Dryden lifting bodies and other vehicles.

For early tests the North American X-15 was powered by two XLR11s. These engines were boosted to 2000 lbf (8.9 kN) of thrust per chamber for a total of 16,000 lbf. In comparison, the idle thrust of the X-15's XLR99 engine was 15,000 lbf.

External links

* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=889 NMUSAF REACTION MOTORS XLR11 ROCKET fact sheet]