Bloodhound LSR

{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}{{Italic title}}

{{Infobox automobile

| image = Bloodhound LSR logo.png

| caption =

| manufacturer = Grafton LSR Ltd, Bristol

| aka =

| production =

| assembly = UK Land Speed Record Centre, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England

| predecessor = ThrustSSC

| successor =

| class = Land speed record vehicle

| body_style =

| layout =

| platform =

| engine = Rolls-Royce Eurojet EJ200 afterburning turbofan

| transmission =

| wheelbase = {{convert|8.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|12.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|3.0|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|6422|kg|lb|abbr=on}} fuelled

| related =

| designer =

| sp = uk

}}

Bloodhound LSR, formerly Bloodhound SSC, is a British land vehicle designed to travel at supersonic speeds with the intention of setting a new world land speed record.[http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/news/noble-green-and-team-target-1000mph-record Noble, Green and Team Target 1,000MPH Record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010174225/http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/news/noble-green-and-team-target-1000mph-record |date=10 October 2018 }} Thursday, 23 October 2008 The arrow-shaped car, under development since 2008, is powered by a jet engine and will be fitted with an additional rocket engine. The initial goal is to exceed the current speed record of {{convert|763|mph|abbr=on}}, with the vehicle believed to be able to achieve up to {{convert|1000|mph|km/h|sigfig=4}}.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7685049.stm|title=Supersonic car targets 1,000mph|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-09|date=22 October 2008}}{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/11/bloodhound-ssc/ |title=Bloodhound SSC: How do you build a car capable of 1,000mph? |author=Jonathan M. Gitlin |date=24 November 2018|publisher=Ars Technica |access-date=9 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/project/facts-and-figures|title=Facts and Figures|website=The Bloodhound Project|date=June 2012|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102175144/http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/project/facts-and-figures|url-status=dead}}

The previous business behind Project Bloodhound went into administration (bankruptcy) in late 2018. Entrepreneur Ian Warhurst bought the car to keep the project alive. A new company called Grafton LSR Ltd was formed to manage the project, which was renamed Bloodhound LSR and moved to SGS Berkeley Green University Technical College. Lack of funds and the COVID-19 pandemic stalled progress in 2020, and in 2021 the vehicle was offered for sale. In May 2021, the project was taken over by Stuart Edmondson, who took over from Ian Warhurst, becoming the incumbent CEO of Grafton LSR Ltd.{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/frequently-asked-questions/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Bloodhound |language=en-GB}} In November 2023, Andy Green stepped down from the driver position for the project. In January 2025, project ambassadors advised that, while the project is still alive, they are still searching for a new driver. {{Cite web |title=Previous Meetings. |url=https://wingsandwheelssociety.org.uk/beenandgone.htm |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=wingsandwheelssociety.org.uk}}

The venue for high speed testing and future world land speed record attempts is the Hakskeen Pan in the Mier area of the Northern Cape, South Africa. An area {{convert|12|mi|km}} long and {{convert|3|mi}} wide was identified as suitable, with the first runs in October 2019. Further runs in November 2019 achieved a top speed of {{Convert|628|mph|km/h|abbr=}}, the eighth vehicle to attain a land speed of over {{convert|600|mph|km/h|abbr=}}.

Timeline

= Inception =

The Bloodhound project was announced on 23 October 2008 at the London Science Museum by Lord Drayson – then Minister of Science in the UK's Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills – who first suggested the project in 2006 to land speed record holders Richard Noble and Andy Green, a pilot and Wing Commander serving in the RAF.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7685049.stm|title=Supersonic car targets 1,000mph|date=2008-10-22|publisher=BBC News: Science & Environment|access-date=2020-01-12|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/3244185/Bloodhound-SSC-British-supercar-designed-to-break-world-land-speed-record-unveiled.html|title=Bloodhound SSC: British supercar designed to break world land speed record unveiled|last=Khan|first=Urmee|date=2008-10-23|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2020-01-12|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} The two men, between them, have held the land speed record since 1983.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/60at60/2015/8/1997-land-speed-record-392880|title=1997: Land Speed Record|date=2015-08-18|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-12}}

In 1983, Noble, a self-described engineer and adventurer{{cite book|last=Noble|first=Richard|title=Thrust|year=1999|publisher=Bantam Books|location=London|isbn=978-0-553-81208-4|page=26}} reached 633 mph (1,019 km/h) driving a turbojet-powered car named Thrust2 across the Nevada desert.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fia.com/fia-world-land-speed-records|title=FIA World Land Speed Records|date=2012-06-10|website=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile|language=en|access-date=2020-01-12}} In 1997, he headed the project to build ThrustSSC, which was driven by Green at {{convert|763|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, thereby breaking the sound barrier, a first for a land vehicle (in compliance with Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile rules). Green was originally set to be Bloodhound LSR's driver.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/frequently-asked-questions/|title=Frequently Asked Questions|website=Bloodhound|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-12}}

The Bloodhound project was named for the Bristol Bloodhound surface-to-air missile, a project that Bloodhound Chief Aerodynamicist Ron Ayers had previously worked on.{{cite news |last1=English |first1=Andrew |title=The 1000 MPH Car Does Not Exist—Yet |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a10209/the-1000-mph-car-does-not-exist-yet-16577046/ |access-date=12 December 2018 |publisher=Popular Mechanics |date=10 March 2014}}

The project was at first based in the former Maritime Heritage Centre on the Bristol harbourside, next to Brunel's {{SS|Great Britain}}. In 2013 the project relocated to a larger site in Avonmouth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-west/90577-bloodhound-relocates-avonmouth|title=Bloodhound relocates in Avonmouth|last=Media|first=Insider|website=Insider Media Ltd|language=en|access-date=2020-01-12}} The head offices of the project moved to Didcot, Oxfordshire in late 2015.{{cite web|title=1,000mph world record rocket car team moves into Oxfordshire headquarters|url=http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/1000mph-world-record-teams-oxfordshire-hq/|website=Oxfordshire Guardian|access-date=18 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308233523/http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/1000mph-world-record-teams-oxfordshire-hq/|archive-date=8 March 2018|url-status=dead}}

= 2017 tests =

Runway testing of up to {{convert|200|mph|km/h}} took place on 26, 28 and 30 October 2017 at Newquay Airport, Cornwall.{{Cite web|url=https://interestingengineering.com/bloodhound-ssc-reaches-210mph-in-its-first-public-test-before-1000mph-land-speed-record-attempt|title=Bloodhound SSC Reaches 210mph in Its First Public Test Before 1,000mph Land Speed Record Attempt|date=2017-10-28|website=interestingengineering.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-12}}

=2018 change of ownership=

In May 2018, the team announced plans for high speed testing at {{cvt|500|-|600|mph|km/h}} in May 2019, and then a {{cvt|1000|mph|km/h}} run in 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44129708|title=Delay for Bloodhound high-speed trials|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2018-05-16|access-date=2020-01-12|language=en-GB}} However, the company backing the project, Bloodhound Programme Ltd, went into administration (bankruptcy) in late 2018 leaving a funding gap of £25 million, which put the venture's future into question.{{cite web|url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/bloodhound-ssc-to-make-first-speed-record-attempt-in-2019/|title=Bloodhound SSC to make first speed record attempt in 2019|date=16 May 2018 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45838994|title=1,000mph car hits financial roadblock|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2018-10-15|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en-GB}}

File:BLOODHOUND LSR 06.jpg

The project was "axed" in December 2018, with plans to sell off the remaining assets.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=Bloodhound supersonic car project axed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46480342?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c779dqq84njt/bloodhound-ssc&link_location=live-reporting-story|access-date=17 December 2018|date=7 December 2018}} Later that month, Yorkshire entrepreneur Ian Warhurst stepped in to rescue the project by buying the assets and intellectual property, including the car, for an undisclosed sum.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|date=17 December 2018|title=Bloodhound supersonic car project saved|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46591860|access-date=17 December 2018}}[https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2018/12/bloodhound-project-saved-from-administration-by-british-entrepreneur/ Bloodhound SSC project saved from administration by British entrepreneur] Engineering & Technology, 17 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2020

=2019 tests=

In March 2019, it was announced that Warhurst had formed a new company called Grafton LSR Ltd. to manage the project, which became the car's legal owner. The company said in a statement that Warhurst was trying to save the project with new sponsors and partners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/revitalised-bloodhound-gets-new-livery-and-headquarters/|title=Revitalised Bloodhound gets new livery and headquarters|date=2019-03-20|website=Bloodhound|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-12}}{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/03/good-news-for-the-1000mph-car-as-bloodhound-gets-a-new-owner/|title=Good news for the 1,000mph car as Bloodhound gets a new owner|last=Gitlin|first=Jonathan M.|date=2019-03-24|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=2019-03-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/bloodhound-history/|title=Bloodhound History|website=Bloodhound|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-12}}

The name of the new team became 'Bloodhound LSR' (for Land Speed Record). The car and the project's headquarters moved to SGS Berkeley Green University Technical College in Berkeley, Gloucestershire near Gloucester.[https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47735093 Bloodhound Diary: Back on track], Andy Green (World Land Speed Record Holder), BBC News Online, 2019-03-29

High speed testing of the car took place at the Hakskeen Pan in October and November 2019. Test runs driven by Green began on 25 October, using only a Rolls-Royce Eurojet EJ200 engine, with an expectation of reaching {{cvt|400|-|500|mph|kph}}.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50187798|title=Bloodhound takes first drive across the desert|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2019-10-25|publisher=BBC News: Science|access-date=2019-10-27|language=en-GB}} The car achieved {{cvt|501|mph|kph}} on 6 November 2019,{{cite news|last=Marriage|first= Ollie|publisher=Top Gear|title=The Bloodhound LSR just hit 501mph|url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/bloodhound-lsr-just-hit-501mph|date=6 November 2019|access-date=6 November 2019}} and a final top speed of {{cvt|628|mph}} on 16 November, making it the eighth vehicle to attain a land speed of over 600 mph.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50438614|title=Bloodhound land speed racer blasts to 628mph|last1=Amos|first1=Jonathan|date=16 November 2019|publisher=BBC News: Science|access-date=16 November 2019}}

= 2020–2022 =

Lack of funds prevented the fitting of the Nammo rocket in 2020, and combined with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meant the opportunity to run the vehicle in 2021 was lost. In January 2021, Warhurst said the vehicle was up for sale and it was reported that the team had moved on to other projects.{{Cite web|last=Speed|first=Richard|date=26 January 2021|title=One careful driver: Make room in the garage... Bloodhound jet-powered car is up for sale|url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/26/bloodhound_for_sale/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-19|website=The Register|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126120736/https://www.theregister.com/2021/01/26/bloodhound_for_sale/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 }} Warhurst stepped aside as CEO in August 2021 and Stuart Edmondson, the project's Engineering Operations Manager for the previous five years, took over the role.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-20 |title=British Bloodhound land speed record project resurrected |url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/british-bloodhound-land-speed-record-project-resurrected/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Driving.co.uk from The Sunday Times |language=en-GB}} When interviewed in July 2022 Edmundson stated that, while on hold, the Bloodhound LSR project was "very much alive" and a new land speed record could be achieved very quickly if new investment could be secured. Edmundson also reported that the project had adopted a new environmental focus, with the aim of achieving a net zero carbon land speed record.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-01 |title=Bloodhound SSC project still alive and now aiming for first carbon zero land speed record |url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/bloodhound-lsr-project-still-alive-and-now-aiming-for-first-carbon-zero-land-speed-record/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=Driving.co.uk from The Sunday Times |language=en-GB}}

= 2023 =

On 8–14 November 2023, Edmondson led a roadshow to seek funding and a new driver for a potential record-setting campaign, estimated to cost between £8{{Nbsp}}million and £12{{Nbsp}}million.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Could you drive the Bloodhound LSR to more than 800mph? |url=https://www.magnetomagazine.com/could-you-drive-the-bloodhound-lsr-to-over-800mph/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Magneto magazine |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=The Bloodhound Land Speed Record team is looking for a new driver |url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/the-bloodhound-land-speed-record-team-is-looking-for-a-new-driver/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Driving.co.uk from The Sunday Times |language=en-GB}} The vehicle resides at Coventry Transport Museum.

Design

= Car =

The car was designed by Bloodhound's Chief Aerodynamicist Ron Ayers and Chief Engineer Mark Chapman, along with aerodynamicists from Swansea University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/interview/motor-ron-ayers-supersonic-car-designer-behind-bloodhound-ssc/|title=Me and My Motor: Ron Ayers, the supersonic car designer behind Bloodhound SSC|date=2018-01-29|website=Sunday Times Driving|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/mark-chapman-chief-engineer-bloodhound-ssc/|title=Mark Chapman – chief engineer, Bloodhound SSC|date=2010-04-18|website=The Engineer|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-30}}

Bloodhound LSR is designed to accelerate from 0 to {{cvt|800|mph|km/h}} in 38 seconds and decelerate using airbrakes at around 800 mph, a parachute at a maximum deployment speed of around {{cvt|650|mph|km/h}} and disc brakes below {{cvt|200|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundeducation.com/the-bloodhound-lsr-project/the-bloodhound-lsr-car/bloodhound-lsr-braking-systems/|title=Bloodhound LSR – Braking systems|date=2019-09-04|website=Bloodhound Education|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-30}} The force on the driver during acceleration would be 2.5 g (two-and-a-half times their body weight) and up to 3 g during deceleration.{{Cite web|url=https://plus.maths.org/content/career-interview-fastest-mathematician-earth|title=Career interview: The fastest mathematician on Earth|date=2009-09-01|website=plus.maths.org|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}

=Aerodynamics=

The aerodynamics of Bloodhound have been carefully calculated to make sure the car is safe and stable, particularly because it will create a shockwave when it reaches the speed of sound.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/bloodhound-video-managing-the-aerodynamics-of-supersonic-shockwaves|title=Bloodhound video: Managing the aerodynamics of supersonic shockwaves|website=imeche.org|access-date=2020-01-30}}

The College of Engineering at Swansea University has been heavily involved in the aerodynamic shape of the vehicle from the start. Dr Ben Evans and his team used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technology designed by Professor Oubay Hassan and Professor Ken Morgan to provide an understanding of the aerodynamic characteristics of the proposed shape, at all speeds, including predicting the likely vertical, lateral and drag forces on the vehicle and its pitch and yaw stability.{{Cite journal|last1=Evans|first1=B.|last2=Morton|first2=T.|last3=Sheridan|first3=L.|last4=Hassan|first4=O.|last5=Morgan|first5=K.|last6=Jones|first6=J. W.|last7=Chapman|first7=M.|last8=Ayers|first8=R.|last9=Niven|first9=I.|date=2013-02-01|title=Design optimisation using computational fluid dynamics applied to a land–based supersonic vehicle, the BLOODHOUND SSC|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-012-0826-0|journal=Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization|language=en|volume=47|issue=2|pages=301–316|doi=10.1007/s00158-012-0826-0|s2cid=253680425 |issn=1615-1488|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite journal|last=Evans|first=Ben|date=2011|title=Computational Fluid Dynamics Applied to the Aerodynamic Design of a Land-Based Supersonic Vehicle|journal=Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations|volume=27|pages=141–159|doi=10.1002/num.20644|s2cid=56569633 |url=https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa6255}}{{Cite journal|last1=Evans|first1=Ben|last2=Rose|first2=Chris|date=2014-04-09|title=Simulating the aerodynamic characteristics of the Land Speed Record vehicle BLOODHOUND SSC|journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering|language=en|volume=228|issue=10|pages=1127–1141|doi=10.1177/0954407013511071|s2cid=55967643 |issn=0954-4070|url=https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa18080/Download/0018080-08022016092546.pdf}}{{cite web |url=http://www.swan.ac.uk/news_centre/LatestNews/Headline,28463,en.php |title=Swansea University help design Bloodhound SSC |publisher=Swansea University |access-date=2008-10-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029012058/http://www.swan.ac.uk/news_centre/LatestNews/Headline%2C28463%2Cen.php |archive-date=29 October 2008 }} This technology, originally developed for the aerospace industry, was validated for a land-going vehicle during the design of ThrustSSC.

=Propulsion=

Three prototype Eurojet EJ200 jet engines developed for the Eurofighter and bound for a museum were loaned to the project.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22646346|title=Bloodhound diary: Rolls of advice|date=2013-05-24|access-date=2019-12-10|language=en-GB}} The car will use one EJ200 to provide around half the thrust and power the car to {{cvt|650|mph|km/h}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundeducation.com/the-bloodhound-lsr-project/the-bloodhound-lsr-car/bloodhound-lsr-engines/|title=Bloodhound LSR – engines|date=2019-08-22|website=Bloodhound Education|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-10}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41747995|title=First public runs for 1,000mph car|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2017-10-26|publisher=BBC News: Science|access-date=2019-12-10|language=en-GB}} A custom monopropellant rocket designed by Nammo will be used to add extra thrust for the world land speed record runs. For the {{cvt|1000|mph|km/h}} runs, the monopropellant rocket will be replaced with a hybrid rocket from Nammo. A third engine, a Jaguar supercharged V-8 is used as an auxiliary power unit to drive the oxidiser pump for the rocket, although this will be replaced by an electric motor.

File:Bloodhound LSR front.jpgInitially Bloodhound SSC was going to use a custom hybrid rocket motor being designed by Daniel Jubb. The rocket was successfully tested at Newquay Airport in 2012.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-19818009|title=Rocket test roars over Newquay|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2012-10-03|access-date=2019-12-10|language=en-GB}} However, constraints on cost, time and test facilities led to a decision to instead use a rocket designed by Norwegian company Nammo.

At first the plan was that the car would use a Nammo hybrid rocket or cluster of rockets, to be fuelled by solid hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene and liquid high-test peroxide oxidiser.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-25426419|title=1,000mph car to use Norwegian rocket|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2013-12-19|access-date=2019-12-10|language=en-GB}} This plan was revised in 2017 and the car will use a monopropellant rocket for the land speed record runs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imeche.org/news/news-article/bloodhound-ssc-the-next-stage|title=James Clayton Lecture – BLOODHOUND SSC: the next stage. Interview with Richard Noble|website=imeche.org|access-date=2019-12-10}}

For the car to achieve {{cvt|800|mph|km/h}}, the monopropellant rocket would need to produce around 40 kN (8992 lbf) of thrust and the EJ200 jet engine 90 kN (20,232 lbf) in reheat.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/project/car/engines/rocket-engine |access-date=2020-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223002623/http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/project/car/engines/rocket-engine|title=Rocket engine|work=The Bloodhound Project|archive-date=2019-02-23}} File:Bloodhound cockpit.jpg

=Wheels=

For low-speed testing at Cornwall Airport Newquay in 2017, the car was fitted with four runway wheels based on those of an English Electric Lightning fighter jet with refurbished original tyres.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/26/bloodhound_ssc_test_run_newquay/|title=The UK's super duper 1,000mph car is being tested in Cornwall|last=at 12:27|first=Gareth Corfield 26 October 2017|website=The Register|language=en|access-date=2019-12-13}} These were replaced for the high-speed test runs in the desert in South Africa in 2019 by four {{convert|90|cm|in|adj=on|abbr=}} diameter wheels weighing {{cvt|95|kg|lb}}, forged from an aircraft-grade aluminium zinc alloy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-31845234|title=Supersonic car gets its superwheels|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|date=2015-03-14|access-date=2019-12-13|language=en-GB}} These were designed to spin at up to 10,200 rpm and resist centrifugal forces of up to {{val|50000|u=g}} at the rim.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/finally-the-news-weve-all-been-waiting-for-bloodhound-is-going-to-the-desert-this-year/|title=Andy Green's Diary: Finally the news we've all been waiting for…... Bloodhound is going to the desert this year!|date=2019-08-01|website=Bloodhound|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-13}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/30/bloodhound-car-aiming-for-land-speed-record-has-final-uk-tests|title=Bloodhound car aiming for land speed record has final UK tests|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=2019-09-30|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-12-13|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

== Wheel bearings ==

Three Timken high-speed (DN around 1,000,000 at full speed) tapered roller bearings support each wheel.{{Cite web |date=2 September 2009 |title=Timken to provide wheel bearing solution for 1,000 mph car |url=http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/news/timken-provide-wheel-bearing-solution-1000-mph-car |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727200208/http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/news/timken-provide-wheel-bearing-solution-1000-mph-car |archive-date=2017-07-27 |access-date=2021-12-09 |website=Bloodhound SSC}}{{Cite web |date=17 October 2019 |title=Andy Green's Diary – September 2019 |url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/andy-greens-diary-september-2019/ |access-date=2021-12-09 |website=Bloodhound LSR |language=en-GB}} When the car's mass increased to {{cvt|7,500|kg|lb}}, Timken recalculated bearing life to be 50 hours, or a 5000% safety factor given the less than 1 hour run time.{{Cite news|date=2012-03-19|title=Bloodhound diary: Cockpit-centred view|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-17429108|access-date=2021-12-09}}

Construction

The car was built at sites in Bristol and Avonmouth.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8375365.stm|title=Supersonic Bloodhound car to be built in Bristol |publisher=BBC|access-date=2009-11-23 | date=23 November 2009}} A full-scale model was unveiled at the 2010 Farnborough International Airshow,{{cite news|last=Amos|first=Jonathan |title=Model of Bloodhound supersonic car unveiled|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10679543|publisher=BBC News|access-date=19 July 2010|date=19 July 2010}} when it was announced that Hampson Industries would begin to build the rear chassis section of the car in the first quarter of 2011 and that a deal for the manufacture of the front of the car was due. The car was largely completed by October 2017 when full reheat static testing was undertaken with the jet engine at Cornwall Airport Newquay followed by low speed test runs.{{cite web | url=http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/newquay-2017/bloodhound-dynamic-testing-run-reports | title=BLOODHOUND Dynamic testing – Run reports| date=2017-10-16}}

Further construction was carried out before the project went into administration and the car was then completed at Berkeley before high speed testing.

Testing locations

Early in the project, Swansea University's School of the Environment and Society was enlisted to help determine a new test site for the record runs because the test site for the ThrustSSC record attempt had become unsuitable.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhoundssc.swan.ac.uk/geography/index.html|title=Swansea University Desert Selection Programme|publisher=Swansea University|access-date=2008-10-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028115404/http://www.bloodhoundssc.swan.ac.uk/geography/index.html|archive-date=28 October 2008}} The venue chosen for high speed testing and for the land speed record runs was Hakskeen Pan in the Mier area of the Northern Cape, South Africa, on a track measuring {{convert|12|mi|km}} long. The local community cleared 16,500 tonnes of stones by hand from an area measuring 22 million square metres to create space for 20 tracks each 10 metres wide, as the car cannot run twice on the same strip of desert.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/bloodhound-catches-the-scent-of-a-world-record-as-desert-spec-car-revealed-for-first-time/|title=Bloodhound catches the scent of a world record as desert spec car revealed for first time|date=2019-10-23|website=Bloodhound|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-30}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/features/bloodhound-land-speed-record-team-announces-high-speed-tests/|title=Bloodhound land speed record team announces high-speed tests at site of 1,000mph attempt|last=Hudson|first=Paul|date=2019-07-16|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2020-01-30|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37913750|title=Bloodhound Diary: Super-track for supercar|last=Green|first=Andy|date=2016-11-08|access-date=2020-01-12|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/news-facts/bloodhound-080313|title=SA clears path for 1 000 mph rocket car|last=Mafika|date=2013-03-08|website=Brand South Africa|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-12}}

Low speed runway testing of over {{cvt|200|mph|km/h}} occurred on 26, 28 and 30 October 2017 at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

High speed testing at Hakskeen Pan began in October 2019. The car achieved {{cvt|628|mph|km/h}} on its final run on 16 November 2019.

Education and STEM outreach

The Bloodhound Project had an education component designed to inspire future generations to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by showcasing these subjects and interacting with young people and students, in partnership with engineering companies including Rolls-Royce.{{cite web|title=Bloodhound Education|url=http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/education|access-date=4 September 2017|date=2012-03-02}} Bloodhound-related education activities are provided by Bloodhound Education Ltd, a standalone charity registered in 2016.{{EW charity|5081957|Bloodhound Education Ltd}} The charity's Bloodhound Education Centre is at SGS Berkeley Green UTC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodhoundeducation.com/the-bloodhound-education-centre/|title=The Bloodhound Education Centre|date=2019-12-13|website=Bloodhound Education|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-30}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}