The Bloodhound Gang

Richard Noble's latest project is designed to set a 1000mph Land Speed Record in 2011.

I once tried to become an engineer. A proper ‘engineer’ I hasten to add, not a call out helper in the mould of an electrician or plumber who seem to able to tack the moniker on to the end of their job titles, no questions asked.

But yes, before I go off on a complete tangent, I once had grand visions of becoming a boffin and achieving great success in the automotive world. That was until I realised a combination of potential death by Powerpoint presentation during lectures and an apparent lack of tech-based knowledge stored in my cranium, resulted in me bailing out of my engineering degree within the space of a month. True story.

There is a point to my tale of educational woes though, as I still remain fully interested by the world of engineering, particularly so if it involves an engine and going rather quickly from A to B. Which is why Richard Noble’s 1000mph Bloodhound project is something I have been keeping a keen eye on recently, and you should too, academics and normal Joe alike.

Twelve years have passed since the Land Speed Record was established by Noble’s previous device, Thrust SSC (supersonic car), which to this day is the only wheeled device to have broken the sound barrier, at 766mph, set by Wing Commander Andy Green.

No one has mounted a challenge to this achievement since then, and rather than simply rest on his laurels, Noble and his Bristol based crew of technical geniuses have been busy working away on their latest SSC project, to not only beat their previous record, but to emphatically smash it by hitting 1000mph (mach 1.4). Representing one of the biggest leaps in the LSR at more than 30 per cent.

Record-breaking speed attempts have been going on for almost as long as there have been cars, with the likes of Mercedes Benz producing streamlined ‘silver arrows’ that were purpose built for bombing down the autobahns of the day. As the years ticked on, the LSR became an American preserve, until Noble brought the accolade back to British shores when he beat Gary Gabelich’s 622mph, with his turbojet Thrust 2, before returning 14 years later in 1997 and setting a, blink and you’ll miss it, 766mph in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada in the Thrust SSC.

Like Formula 1, the Bloodhound project incorporates such technologies as aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and composite manufacturing, and that’s where most of the similarities with the pinnacle of motor racing finish.

The radically designed blue and orange, needled-nosed, rocket on wheels has in the last few months received a major facelift, with its shape altering from the ‘rocket over jet’ form, to a swooping air intake feeding a low-set engine, feeding an almighty rocket motor sitting between the wheels (which will rotate at over 10,000rpm) and the Eurojet EJ200 Typhoon fighter jet engine.

Designed to accelerate from a complete standstill to 1050mph in just 40 seconds, when the rocket in the Bloodhound is ignited, it will produce acceleration in excess of 2G, and upon reaching maximum velocity, the air pressure on its carbon fibre bodywork will exceed 12 tonnes/sq.m.

These figures are nothing short of mind blowing and make for impressive reading. Equally remarkable is the affect the Bloodhound project has had in boosting the image of engineering, in academia and also in capturing the interest of the general public. Something the LSR has never really managed to achieve since its inception and has seen sponsors shy away.

With few promotional opportunities available and little coverage of what is essentially something that goes incredibly fast in a straight line, attracting sponsors to such a project is a difficult task, recession or otherwise. Yet the educational key objectives of the project have made Noble's venture seem all the more lucrative.

With an estimated budget £10 million needed to break 1000mph, the project has received part-funding from the British government who see the venture as a way to reignite interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among the nation’s youth, and ultimately increase the numbers entering careers in these fields – also known as the ‘Apollo effect,’ as seen in the United States when during the moon landings, engineering graduate numbers rocketed (excuse the pun).

“That’s our core aim,” says Bloodhound’s pilot Green. “It almost doesn’t matter how fast we go. Even if we don’t hit 1000mph but still get students excited about engineering, we’ll see that as a success.”

Since 2008, Bloodhound has attracted 33 universities, 98 colleges and 10 per cent of Britain’s schools, all of which have involved themselves with the project through a broad range of curriculum-based activities in the sphere of science and technology as well as geography and citizenship. The four figure adventure has had a positive educational effect and hopefully the momentum will be there for students to use their knowledge for the good of the nation and their career prospects.

Call me patriotic or just completely oblivious, but I genuinely believe that Britain produces some of the best engineers in the world. So to watch Noble and his band of technical gurus attempting to push the boundaries next year, when the Bloodhound SSC starts its supersonic record attempt in South Africa, will be nothing short of awe inspiring and it’s something we should all applaud, as it strives to motivate the next generation to deal with global challenges.