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BLOODHOUND
successful first
public runs
BLOODHOUNDSSCmade its first public runs at Cornwall
Airport Newquay today, hitting a peak speed of 210mph
in front of an estimated 3,500 spectators, including VIPs
and members of the BLOODHOUND’s 1K supporters
club. The successful test was live streamed around the
world and came 20 years after driver Wing Commander
Andy Green set the current World Land Speed Record of
763.035mph.
BLOODHOUND SSC made two runs along the 9,000ft
(2.7km) runway, accelerating at a rate of 1.5G and
reaching 210mph from a standing start in just 8 seconds.
The runs were an unqualified success and atmosphere
among the crowd was euphoric. Andy Green was equally
thrilled: “The Car is already working faster and better
than we expected. I cannot wait to go faster!”
Powering down the runway
For these runs, power was provided by a Rolls-Royce
EJ200 jet engine, normally found in a Eurofighter
Typhoon. This produced a peak thrust of 20,000lbs (90
kilonewtons), equivalent to 54,000 thrust horsepower, or
the combined output of 360 family cars.
On completing the test, Andy Green added: “The design
and engineering team has done an incredible job with
BLOODHOUND SSC. There is development work
still to do, of course, but straight out of the box it feels
responsive, stable and, above all, tremendously fast.
“Although 210mph is far below the Car’s ultimate target
of 1,000mph, today was a proper workout for the vehicle.
The Car is designed for high speed on a desert rather
than sprint performance off the line, but it still accelerated
from zero to 210mph in less than 8 seconds. It’s also
notable for being the longest period that we’ve run the
Car for, at around 21.5 minutes – and remember it’s
designed to run for just 2 minutes at a time in the desert.”
Final stage of Newquay tests
The runway trials came at the end of a month of testing
at Cornwall Airport Newquay where the Team has been
checking the integration of the EJ200 jet engine as well as
the Car’s steering, brakes, suspension, data systems and
other functions. It’s also given the Team the opportunity to
develop operating procedures and safety protocols, and
practice radio communications.
The Car was fitted with its runway wheels, originally from an
English Electric Lightning fighter. Specially reconditioned
by Dunlop, these wheels have pneumatic tyres, which
have around one-third of the grip of regular car tyres.
“Stopping a slippery, 5 tonne car, running on low-grip
aircraft tyres, is a challenge within the relatively limited
length of the 2.7km runway here, particularly as the
Car continues accelerating after I lift off the throttle.
I discovered during the initial dynamic tests that to get
the Car to 200mph, I would have to take my foot off the
throttle at 130mph as it then carries on accelerating
for another 2 seconds. And then to slow down, I need
to apply gentle pressure to the brakes for 2 seconds to
‘warm up’ the carbon fibre disk brakes before applying
full force on the brakes to stop the Car.”
The brakes heated up to nearly 1,000°C and Andy noted
that there was even a flicker of flame on one of them: “It’s
a proper race car!”
66 l New-Tech Magazine Europe