The Bloodhound supersonic car moved a step closer to reality today as its designers handed over the first set of drawings to aerospace component manufacturer Hampson Industries, which will produce the rear of the car.
Powered by a Eurofighter Typhoon EJ200 jet engine and a hybrid rocket, the British team hopes to break the current land speed record of 763mph by taking the car to over 1,000mph in South Africa next year.
Hampson has assembled a project team at its Wigan, UK site and will begin construction of the steel and aluminium fuselage this month.
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© BillypixThe Bloodhound supersonic car (pictured at Farnborough) is powered by a Eurofighter Typhoon EJ200 jet engine and a hybrid rocket |
Mark Abbey, Hampson's group global aerospace marketing and business development director, says the firm will bring its extensive aerospace experience to the build. "It's an honour to be involved in such a unique engineering adventure," he comments.
Hampson programme manager Ian Gaskin adds: "To be honest the structure is very similar to that of an aircraft so assembly should be relatively straightforward."
BLOODHOUND IN NUMBERS
The land-speed record attempt will take place next year in South Africa, following runway tests on at an as-yet unidentifed location in the UK. The Bloodhound will be powered by the EJ200 jet engine without reheat up to 100mph, then with reheat to 350mph before the rocket is fired up for a run to 1,000mph. During the run, the Cosworth engine pumps 800l of oxidant in 20s at 1200psi into the hybrid rocket, generating 2700lbs of thrust. The pilot will experience 2.5G on acceleration and 3G on deceleration, when the rocket cuts out. Airbrakes will handle deceleration from 800mph to 200mph, when wheel brakes cut in.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
