Cool next generation jet/rocket engine - British too

I like this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23332592

A British company is building a most excellent new engine that is both a jet and a rocket engine in one unit, and will be able to knock on a bit too

The idea is it will be light enough and powerful enough to take a plane/space craft into orbit without the usual expense and waste of throw-away rockets, but the technology is also likely to make its way into commercial airliners, bringing in a new generation of supersonic planes.

The government is sufficiently impressed that they have promised to invest £millions, although it amuses me why they say they want it.

Yeah. And it wont go in the next generation of military aircraft or long range missiles will it Mr Minister?

Still cool though.

 

I would have given them a few quid to see Mr Osborne being sucked into it