Name
|
Bloodhound
Supersonic
|
Class
|
Land-Speed Record Vehicle
|
Engine
|
Rolls-Royce Eurojet E200
Cosworth CA2010 Formula
1 race engine
|
Length
|
12.8 m
|
Width
|
1.9 m
|
Weight
|
6422 kg
|
Wheelbase
|
900 mm
|
Acceleration
|
0 – 1050 mph in 40 seconds
|
 |
Thrust SSC |
The Project for Bloodhound Supersonic was declared by Lord
Drayson in London Science Museum in 23 October 2008. Drayson is Minister of
science in Department of Innovation, Universities and skills of UK. In 20005 he
proposed the project to Andy Green and Richard Noble, who were successful in
holding the land speed record for last 25 years. Richard Noble reached 1019 km/h in a specially
designed car called the Thrust 2
in Nevada Desert in 1983. Andy Green a RAF pilot drove
the Thrust SSC at 1227.97 km/h, thereby breaking the sound barrier for the
first time ever by a land vehicle.
It is proposed that Green will again drive the Bloodhound.
As the car accelerates 0 to 1,050 km/h in just 40 seconds he will experience a
force of two and half times his bodyweight resulting in his blood rushing to
his head. In order to slow down the vehicle brakes are deployed at 1300 km/h
and parachutes at 970 km/h. Disc brakes will be used below 400 km/h. As he
decelerates, he has to experience forces at 3 times his body weight resulting
in the blood t drain out to his feet. He will practice this stunt in a stunt
aircraft flying upside down at a speed of 1000 km/h.
 |
Bloodhound SSC rearview |
The College of Engineering at Swansea University is heavily
involved in the designing of the vehicle from the very beginning. Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been used to provide an understanding in the
aerodynamic characteristics of the proposed shape, at all speeds, including the
vertical and lateral drag forces on the vehicle. This technology was actually
developed for the aerospace industry. It was validated during the desidning of
Thrust SSC. A prototype Eurojet E200 engine developed for an Eurofighter was in
the museum. It was donated to the project which will take the car to 480 km/h,
a hybrid rocket engine added to it will boost it upto 1600 km/h. A third 800 hp (600 kW) 2.4 Litre
Cosworth CA2010 F1 V8 petrol engine is used as an auxiliary power unit. The jet
engine provides thrust of 9 tonnes and the rocket engine adds another 12
tonnes. Bloodhound will have same power as 180 F1 cars.
 |
Bloodhound SSC interior |
If Bloodhound achieves it speed of 1600 km/h, it
will mark the greatest incremental increase in the history of the Land- Speed
record. It will also exceed the low altitude speed record for an aircraft which
was 1,520 km/h. As the ultimate racing car, Bloodhound will also be the
catalyst for a raft of cutting edge research in fields such as aerodynamics,
CFDs, materials technology, composite manufacturing and sustainable high-tech
engineering. This jet and rocket powered vehicle will be more advanced than most
spacecraft and faster than a bullet fired from a handgun. At this speed Andy
Green will be covering distance equivalent to over four football fields in the
blink of an eye.
The prime objective of the bloodhound project is
to create an unprecedented educational and engagement programme, led by a group
of teachers and education specialists. This project is a private venture.
Government is part funding the 3 year education programme but not the build and
the running costs of the car. The costs are to be covered by the sponsorships.
There was never been anything like Bloodhound SSC before. It is undoubtedly the
most stimulating and challenging programme for the developers.
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