Bloodhound SSC (2010) at Farnborough air show
Mon, 19 Jul 2010
Project Bloodhound today unveiled the new SSC record-breaker-to-be at the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show. It's an apt show debut for the SSC, with its 1000mph target land speed.
So this is the real Bloodhound SSC?
Not quite yet. This is the first full-scale model, so don't expect any burn-outs or high-speed tests at the Farnborough runway. It's pretty big, at 12.8m long, to stabilise the SSC at its projected top speed of 1050mph or Mach 1.4.
That's a chilling 10 miles in 100 seconds. If all goes according to plan, the SSC will hit its top speed after just four and a half miles.
What powers the Bloodhound SSC?
Three separate jet and rocket engines power the 6000kg SSC, mustering a heady 133,000bhp combined. The Eurofighter Typhoon engine alone produces 20,000lb ft of thrust – but Europe's biggest rocket engine will add an extra 47,500lb ft, equivalent of 180 F1 cars.
Wiping off that speed is a combination of air brake, parachute and wheel brakes. The SSC is made from steel, titanium and aluminium strong enough to cope with supersonic target speed.
The Bloodhound project is an unusual British engineering exercise, as the founders are signing up school pupils to drum up interest in maths and science. More than 1.5 million students are now onboard, spread across 3471 primary and secondary schools, 229 further education colleges and 40 universities.
Some very fast men are behind the SSC. Richard Noble is project director and the driver in the desert runs in 2012 will be record-breaker Andy Green. Being an RAF pilot, he'll be used to going from 0-1000mph in 42sec.
By Tim Pollard