Originally Posted by
John Farley
The first steps towards hovering using jet engines for direct lift were all taken by the RAE Farnborough. In 1951 they instigated a model rig test of a jet reaction attitude control system. The success of this led to them contracting Rolls-Royce to build a man carrying hovering rig called the Flying Bedstead which flew in 1954. This in turn led to a contract on Shorts to produce the SC1 aircraft with four separate lift engines plus one for propulsion to investigate the transition manoeuvre. A double transition (accelerating onto the wings and back again) was achieved with the SC1 in 1960. Later that same year Hawkers started to use the P1127 to look at the notion of jet lift (initially PV) using a single engine with swivelling nozzles.
All three machines are to be found in The Science Museum in South Kensington. The P1127 is in the aviation gallery and the other two can be found adjacent to the Apollo X capsule on the ground floor. The aircraft are rather poorly displayed which is a shame.
Whoever flew the bedstead must have been wearing their "extra brave" trousers.