MACH 1.4...1,000 MPH!

[DarthRider]

Sir Richard Nobel and Wing Commander Andy Green, RAF are still at it. If 750++ MPH & Mach I weren't enough for them, now they're looking to step it up.
They've been working on "Bloodhound" for a while and it's really getting interesting.
http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/

Man, talk about "high-technology in competitive motorsport", these guys are writing the book!
If you're interested in their unique approach, read the "Adventure" tab on the website...smart.:eusa_clap::eusa_clap:

Ever want to "race" a Typhoon Eurofighter? Well here's your chance, Speed-O!
http://www.youtube.com/1050mph#p/f

Want to get your name on the fin?
http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/goodies/your_name_on_the_fin.cfm

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/_db/_images/BH_image_2_Large.jpg

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/_db/_images/BH_image_1_Large.jpg

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/_db/_images/BH_image_3_Large.jpg

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/_db/_images/BH_image_4_Small.jpg

[Rchop]

It will be interesting...you can't make a single mistake at that speed!!

[SV Andy]

Thats one sweet machine and good luck to all who sail in her, now i'm no engineer and i know even less about aerodynamics, how is it going to stay on the ground at those sort of speeds are the little wings on the front big enough to keep the nose down.

[DarthRider]

Andy, my guess (based on some things they did with the SSC car) is just what you said about the little wings.
At great speed those little guys could exert tremendous force and would likely be computerized & make hundreds of adjustments per second.
This is their 3rd car, the first two were very successful. If Mach 1.4 is attainable, these are the blokes to do it!
Part of their new "mission" and concept with this car is to be 100% open & sharing of all the technology & engineering, no one has ever done that before that I know of.
I'm surprised we haven't heard from Bill & Si on this...totally different engineering approach & British national pride. That combination has worked before!
Read the "Adventure" tab and you're hooked!
And to show how smart these guys are, read "Environment" too. Richard Noble, among many other talents, is a world-class promoter.
He proved that with the 1st car...he built it with a 'passenger cockpit" and offered 300MPH rides to potential major sponsors. He would take them for a ride, then get them to sign-on while their knees were still wobbly. That's how he got Shell Oil!

[JCsman]

I'd meant to comment on this earlier. What a beauty. What a goal!

I very much suspect Dave is right about the canards (front little wings) and computer control. Perhaps based on front wheel weight?

It's hard to imagine a static wing doing the trick at that speed with ground bumps and ground effect added.

I suppose the rocket engine placement works as well. It's thrust (unless angled more than I can see in the photo) is certainly above the center line of the vehicle. That would tend to add a "couple" effect to push down on the front.

But (and here I'm writing far above my level of knowledge) the center of pressure is a key as well. Must have some really bright boys working on THIS thing. At lest they have experience with the transonic issue.

FWIW,it sure "looks" right to my eye.

With the placement of the intake I'll trust the canopy is pretty well tightened down!

Well now,I just went to the linked site and looked around. The winglets are dynamic and computer controlled by measuring weight on the wheels. Good call Dangerous D.

I almost agree with Randy. At that speed you can ONLY make a single mistake. Let's hope they do not.

[JCsman]

Hmmmm... just viewed link #2, the "race" with the Eurofighter. The rocket was placed below the jet engine on the Bloodhound for that animation. Now it is reversed.

Might be the decision on optimal thrust vectors. Might, I'd guess more likely, a lower CG accounts for the change.

But, whadda I know? Interesting.

[DarthRider]

Bill, as far as I know, all the images are artist's renditions...I've already seen 2 paint schemes.
You have to admit though, those are damn fine "drawings", especially the first one, above!
Bill, what did you think about Noble getting schools involved, both as a source of worker bees, and to "grow" science & mathematics in UK? And transparent technology?
On the last car, in addition to private advertisers & sugar daddies, he got local UK towns to actually donate serious money. Sort of like tax abatements here, I guess. He got the RAF to "donate" (then) Captain Andy Green's time, and a lot of other resources.
Noble is right up there with Steve Fosset and Sir Richard Branson.

Fascinating reading here at the "Thrust SSC" website. This was their previous car that was sonic.
http://www.thrustssc.com/thrustssc/contents_frames.html

http://www.roadsters.com/ssc_500x446.jpg

http://www.boris-lux.de/03_CDes/31_re/97_tss/cd31-0080trg.gif

Just as it went sonic:
http://www.billzilla.org/thrustssc.jpg

Here is the first car, "Thrust 2". Actually there was an earlier model of this one but it crashed & was destroyed. This is the one he gave rides in to "capture" sponsors. It "only" went 633 MPH.
http://www.speedace.info/speedace_images/thrust_2_poster.jpg