Bloodhound SSC

Bloodhound SSC to make test debut later this year - but its 1,000mph land speed record bid is postponed until at least 2016

• Project suffered schedule setback because of rocket system problems
• Won't be tested in South Africa until next year when weather improves
• But car will be ready for 'slow-speed' testing in Cornwall in a few months
• Pilot Andy Green hopes to break the land speed record by pushing the Bloodhound Super-Sonic Car to 1,000 mph (1,610km/h) next year 

By Sarah Griffiths

Published: 15:10 GMT, 15 June 2015 | Updated: 17:54 GMT, 15 June 2015 

 

The Bloodhound Super-Sonic Car is set to make its 'slow-speed' test debut in Cornwall in a few months.

The car, which is eventually designed to travel at 1,000 mph (1,610km/h) will be put through its paces at a much slower 200mph (322km/h).

The attempt to break the world land speed record in the South African desert has been pushed back until next year, due to a problem with the car's rocket system, meaning it won't be able to be tested on tracks before seasonal rain arrives.

The Bloodhound Super-Sonic Car won't attempt to break the world land speed record in the South African desert (illustrated) until next year because of a problem with parts of its rocket system

Bloodhound SSC's pilot, Wing Commander Andy Green, will now attempt to drive the car at 800 mph (1,287 km/h) in South Africa in April or May next year.

If he reaches this speed, the car will break the current land speed record which stands at 763 mph (1,227km/h).

But the aim remains to run the car at 1,000 mph (1,610km/h) later in 2016 on the dried-out lake bed of Hakskeen Pan in South Africa.

Bloodhound SSC's chief engineer, Mark Chapman, told the BBC: 'The most pragmatic thing is to deploy out to the desert in April or May next year, at the start of the dry season, and that gives us the best opportunity to build up those speeds.

Bloodhound SSC (pictured) is designed to move at 1,000 mph (1,610km/h), will be complete and ready for 'slow-speed' testing in the UK in just a few months

The bid to get the car to South Africa where it will start its record-breaking attempt, has been held up slightly by parts of its rocket system being damaged under pressure, meaning more robust parts need to be made. A damaged rear bearing (left) and broken impeller (right) is shown

Bloodhound will have to withstand extreme forces, including the risk of bird strike, during its record attempt. A diagram of its specially engineered components is shown

WHAT'S THE HOLD-UP? 

Engineers discovered in testing that a pump system that carries pressurised fuel, worked much better than expected.

While this was good news in some ways, they found that a component called the impeller, which drives fuel into the motor, was so efficient it had put too much pressure on the shaft and bearings that support it. 

The solution was simple - to create a tougher shaft and bearings, but has led to a 10 week slip in the programme.

'By the time we had identified the problem, done the redesign and remanufacturing, we had slipped out of our original rocket test window,' Richard Knight told MailOnline. 

Further delays have been caused because the firing range used to test the rocket system is closed over summer and then it's rainy season in South Africa.

Consequently the team's decided to push its record-breaking bid back to early 2016 when mechanical problems should be fixed and the weather ideal for the Land Speed Record attempt. 

'But, importantly, it also gives us time to complete our rocket development programme.'

The shaft and bearings in the vehicle's rocket system have been chewed up under pressure, meaning that more robust versions must be made, resulting a 10 week delay.

The rocket system will work in tandem with the car's Eurofighter jet engine, enabling it to travel at supersonic speeds.

Once the new components are made, the team will have to wait to test the equipment at Norwegian rocket manufacturer Nammo's firing range, because it will be closed for summer.

This means that testing cannot begin until 17 November in Cornwall, instead of August.

The supersonic car will undergo a 200mph (322 km/h) trial at Newquay Aerohub.

It's currently being assembled in Bristol and will be fitted with airbrakes and winglets after its Newquay trial in preparations for the South Africa summer trails, which will take place when the weather is 'optimal'.

Wing Commander Green said that the team had been advised not to attempt tests runs in South Africa in December and January because it's 45°C (113°F) during the day and rainy.

Bloodhound SSC's pilot, Andy Green (pictured), is now set to be driven at 800 mph (1,287 km/h) in April or May next year. If he reaches this speed, the car will break the current land speed record which stands at 763 mph (1,227km/h)

Bloodhound will attempt to beat the World Land Speed Record set by the Thrust Supersonic Car in 1997. This graphic shows how man has gradually gotten faster on land since his first land speed record attempt

The aim of the project remains to run the car at 1,000 mph (1,610km/h) later in 2016 on the dried-out lake bed of Hakskeen Pan in South Africa (marked on this map)

 

HOW TO STOP THE WORLD'S FASTEST CAR 

The team behind the Bloodhound SSC revealed last year how they intend to slow it from 1,000mph (1,600km/h) to zero.

After the car reaches its top speed, air brakes and parachutes will slow it to 160mph (260km/h).

Breaking to this speed will be done at a constant 3G deceleration - equivalent to going from 60mph (95km/h) in a normal car to zero in just one second - for 20 seconds.

At this speed the car’s wheels will be still spinning 10,000 times per minute.

Attempts to use carbon rotors from a jet fighter in the form of car-like disc brakes shattered at speeds of just half this, so the team needed a new approach.

Instead, they switched to steel rotors.

In tests, these could withstand temperatures of up to 850°C (1,560°F), and will be used again.

The next step will be to test these brakes out at the full 10,000rpm that will be experienced.

'It makes much more sense to take slightly longer to prepare the desert car and get it running at high speed in spring 2016 at the start of the weather window,' he said.

Bloodhound spokesman Richard Knight, told MailOnline that with the project going so well and so much time and money invested, 'there is no point rushing out to the Kalahari only to find the track too wet or cross winds too strong.'

'We're disappointed in the delay but it is the pragmatic thing to do.'

He said that people understand how difficult the project is and that experimental engineering is involved, so delays are almost inevitable. 

Wing Commander Green added that in the springtime, it doesn't matter if there are further small delays because the weather gets steadily better in South Africa.

With the added airbrakes and winglets, the car is expected to cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds.

Mr Knight said: 'Hopefully we will be able to get the car up to 800mph once we get to South Africa.

'This is going to be a gradual process. We cannot rush to try to get up to 1,000mph. The saying is: 'You don't hurry to go fast'.

Bloodhound has three power plants - a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet from a Eurofighter Typhoon, a cluster of Nammo hybrid rockets and a Jaguar V8 engine that drives the rocket oxidiser pump.

Between them they generate 135,000 thrust horsepower, equivalent to 180 Formula 1 cars.

Bloodhound has three power plants - a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet from a Eurofighter Typhoon, a cluster of Nammo hybrid rockets and a Jaguar V8 engine that drives the rocket oxidiser pump among its many parts (shown)

Rocket that will power a car to 1,000mph tested for first time

 

WHAT IS THE BLOODHOUND SSC?

The SSC stands for ‘SuperSonic Car’.

The vehicle has four wheels and is powered by both the newly-fitted jet engine and a rocket.

It is set to travel at 1,000mph (1,600km/h).

The slender body, 44 feet (14 metres) long, keeps the entire vehicle aerodynamic.

The pencil-shaped car (concept pictured) will be 44ft (13.4m) long and weigh 7.5 tonnes when completed

It weighs just over seven tonnes and the engines will produce more than 135,000 horsepower.

That’s more than six times the power of all the cars on a Formula 1 starting grid put together.

In the coming years the vehicle will begin test runs at lower speeds before attempting to set a new land speed record.

The current land speed record stands at 763.035mph (1,227.985km/h), set by former RAF pilot Andy Green - who will also drive the Bloodhound - back in 1997 in the ThrustSSC.