propeller/rocket plane

This rocket plane would use the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to power a turboprop. This should be very light. It will be less fuel efficient than a conventional turboprop but the reduction in engine size will reduce the empty weight of the vehicle, which is good for rockets [google //rocket equation//]. The plane would take off vertically. This reduces the size of the wings as they only have to be big enough to support the empty plane when landing, again this is good.

Once the propellor starts loosing too much thrust at altitude, a tail mounted rocket engine is ignited and the plane continues under rocket power. The rocket engine will be more efficient at high altitude as the pressure is lower. This allows the exhaust to expand more fully so converting more heat energy into kinetic energy as the exhaust cools. The plane then runs out of fuel and oxidizer and coasts on a suborbital trajectory. Later re-entering at a high angle of attack.