Bloodhound SSC to make global debut in November

The Bloodhound SSC will make its global debut in November with a 200mph/ 320kph test run before heading to South Africa in 2016.

The initial 200mph test, which will take place at Newquay Aerohub in Cornwall, will be crucial in helping the car reach its ultimate goal of 1000mph/1600kph – and in doing so setting a new Land Speed Record, already held by Green at 763mph. The high-speed tests willl take place in Hakskenn, South Africa next summer.

Building of the car is now in the final stages. In a recent video, members of the Royal Air Force's 71 Squadron and the Army's Royal Electrical & Mechanical engineers are shown working alongside Bloodhound's own technicians. The film also shows British driver Andy Green being fitted into the car's small cockpit.

The team also recently completed a successful ballistics test of a new composite material that will protect Green as part of the run.

During its fastest runs, Bloodhound's wheels will be spinning at 10,200rpm, the equivalent of 170 rotations per second. One of the dangers is the possibility of the wheels throwing up hidden stones, which could hit the car's bodywork at breakneck speeds.

Morgan Advanced Technologies, a technical partner on the project, has developed composite ballistic panels containing millions of woven glass fibres that will be fitted to the cockpit with the hope of protecting driver Andy Green.

As part of testing procedures, the panel was subjected to a 2000mph ballistics test, which you can see in the video below.

Other technical partners on the project include Jaguar, with the firm's supercharged V8 engine being used to power the fuel pump for the rocket that will take the car beyond 1000mph if the project is successful.

The news that a Jaguar engine will sit at the heart of the project was announced at the LA motor show in November last year, and is part of a wider co-operation between Jaguar and the Bloodhound team that includes technical input, sponsorship and marketing assistance.

Bloodhound will be part-powered by a jet engine from a Eurojet EJ200, which powers the Eurofighter Typhoon. Once up to speed, driver Andy Green will fire up rockets for additional power, creating estimated peak thrust of 77,500bhp. The Jaguar V8 will need to pump rocket fuel at a rate of 40 litres per second, and replaces the Cosworth Formula 1 engine that was originally used on test beds.

Jaguar engineers have already worked on a communication test for the car, using the new Jaguar F-Type AWD. During the test the F-Type was driven flat-out across South Africa’s Hakskeen Pan desert towards a fighter jet travelling at 500mph/800kph. The closing speed of close to 700mph/1,120kph allowed the team to test communications equipment.

The Bloodhound car was first revealed in model form in 2010, with the car's innovative rocket system first tested in 2012. The successful rocket test coincided with news that Bloodhound had secured enough funding to finish the project, the total cost of which is understood to have been around £8.5 million/Rs 83.66 croreover four years.

Also read:  Jaguar F-Type helps test parachute deployment for World Land Speed record challenger Bloodhound SSC