Skua_(rocket)
Skua is the designation of a British sounding rocket which was launched between 1959 and 1981 in four versions over 300 times.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The Skua was developed by Bristol Aerojet and RPE Wescott.[1]
It consisted of a starting stage made up of several Chick rockets (like the Petrel) that burned for 0.2 seconds.[1] They propelled the rocket 20 metres over the 5-metre-long launch tube.[1][8] After that, the Bantam main stage ignited.
The fastest Jet stream velocity ever measured (656 km/h or 408 mph) was recorded by instruments on board a Skua rocket above South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland at an altitude of 47,000 m (154,200 ft), on 13 December 1967.[9]