Team leader Andy Green holds a model of the Bloodhound SSC. All going well, the supersonic car will attempt to reach 1000mph in South Africa in 2016.
Team leader Andy Green holds a model of the Bloodhound SSC. All going well, the supersonic car will attempt to reach 1000mph in South Africa in 2016.
Made of titanium, carbon fibre and designed to go faster than a speeding bullet, the Bloodhound SSC has been painstakingly put together and tested over the better part of six years.
Made of titanium, carbon fibre and designed to go faster than a speeding bullet, the Bloodhound SSC has been painstakingly put together and tested over the better part of six years.
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The 42-foot (8.9m) vehicle has no rubber on its aluminium wheels. Team leader Andy Green says that rubber gets flung off the rim when the vehicle goes faster than 450mph.
The 42-foot (8.9m) vehicle has no rubber on its aluminium wheels. Team leader Andy Green says that rubber gets flung off the rim when the vehicle goes faster than 450mph.
Stefan Marjoram/FLock and siemens
Besides three engines delivering 135,000 horsepower, the Bloodhound is equipped with rocket boosters to deliver the thrust necessary to get it to 1000mph.
Besides three engines delivering 135,000 horsepower, the Bloodhound is equipped with rocket boosters to deliver the thrust necessary to get it to 1000mph.
CNN
A view of the cockpit of the Bloodhound SSC. Green - who described the job of the driver as 'uncomfortable (but) hugely busy' - says that he will have to deal with high G forces, heat and vibration when he makes the attempt in South Africa.
A view of the cockpit of the Bloodhound SSC. Green - who described the job of the driver as 'uncomfortable (but) hugely busy' - says that he will have to deal with high G forces, heat and vibration when he makes the attempt in South Africa.
Stefan Marjoram/Flock and Siemens
The UK-based team will have worked on the supersonic car for almost 10 years when they make the attempt. The car will cover a mile in 3.6 seconds -- equivalent to 4.5 football pitches laid end to end every second.
The UK-based team will have worked on the supersonic car for almost 10 years when they make the attempt. The car will cover a mile in 3.6 seconds -- equivalent to 4.5 football pitches laid end to end every second.
stefan marjoram/flock and siemens
Green, a former fighter jet pilot with the Royal Air Force (RAF), says the record attempt is about instilling a sense of engineering progress in future generations.
Green, a former fighter jet pilot with the Royal Air Force (RAF), says the record attempt is about instilling a sense of engineering progress in future generations.
stefan marjoram/flock and siemens
The current world record is held by this car, the Thrust SSC, which obtained it in 1997.
The current world record is held by this car, the Thrust SSC, which obtained it in 1997.
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Andy Green, who broke the sound barrier while driving the SS Thrust in 1997, is hoping to set a new record, reaching a speed of 1,000mph.
Andy Green, who broke the sound barrier while driving the SS Thrust in 1997, is hoping to set a new record, reaching a speed of 1,000mph.
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3 Oct 1997: General view of the Thrust SSC Car in action during the Supersonic World Land Speed Record Challenge at Black Rock Desert in Gerlach, Nevada.
3 Oct 1997: General view of the Thrust SSC Car in action during the Supersonic World Land Speed Record Challenge at Black Rock Desert in Gerlach, Nevada.
Harry How /Allsport