On The Scent: The Bloodhound Car Aiming to Break the Land Speed Record

To say that we are easily excited when we hear about any new engineering feat is an understatement, and one engineering project has been in the back of our mind for many months now; the Bloodhound SSC, an engineering masterpiece which is set to break the land speed record with speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour in 2017.

This incredible project is headed by the same man who was behind the team who hold the current land speed record, Richard Nobel. However, 20 years since that record of reaching 763mph was set, the team are back and looking to quash the record by a huge 237mph by creating a supersonic car which is expected to cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds.

Exhilarating Engineering

Weighing in at 7.5 tonnes, you may not expect this ingenious hybrid vehicle to make much headway, but thanks to the design and ingenuity used by the team, the car is believed to be able to reach over supersonic speeds of up to 1,000 miles per hour.

The vehicle’s design takes inspiration from both a car and an aircraft; with a carbon fibre monocoque which is found in Formula 1 cars at the front of the machine and a network of carefully placed panels like an aircraft at the back.

Put it this way, the car is designed to be over six times the power of all the F1 cars on a starting grid!

EUROJET EJ200 Engine and Rocket Power

Usually found in the engine of a Eurofighter Typhoon, the EUROJET EJ200 engine is what gives around half of the Bloodhound’s thrust. Not only will this car incorporate the design of an aircraft, it will also incorporate its power too!

In addition to this extremely powerful engine, the Bloodhound SSC will also benefit from a further speed boost through the addition of a Nammo rocket.

Although the project aimed to be solely rocket powered in the beginning, the team behind this supersonic powerhouse realised that rockets aren’t easily controlled and that the addition of a jet engine would not only give a boost of extra power, but would also add a range of control to the vehicle, too.

Revealed to the world back in September ahead of its record attempt in South Africa in 2017, the eight years of research that has gone into this powerful land vehicle will have hopefully paid off. The team behind the vehicle is made up of various Formula 1 and aerospace technicians and engineers, so we’re excited to see where this next step in engineering takes us.

Although we can’t provide you with the means to build a machine that can reach speeds of up to 1,000mph, we can provide you with some of the best spring products available. From die springs to pressings and wireforms, we are sure to have a product or service to suit you.

For more information, get in touch with our expert team today by calling 028 9083 8605 and we will be more than happy to help you with your enquiries.