BLOODHOUND SSC – a supersonic land speed racing car designed to reach speeds of 1,000mph (1,600km/h).
Welcome to BLOODHOUND’s monthly newsletter, with the latest news about the Project and the build of the Car. Check out our website at www.bloodhoundssc.com for more information, videos and images.
Latest news on the Car
Every month BLOODHOUND looks increasingly like a real land speed world record car and lots of work is happening on the internal components too. Here are some of the latest highlights – remember to follow us on social media or visit our website regularly to keep up to date as the team forges ahead.
Fitting the jet engine
For the first time the EJ200 jet engine has been lifted up inside the completed upper chassis with the correct fixings and fitted into place on the lower chassis – a milestone in the build of the vehicle. With space at a premium inside the car, this was a very careful manoeuvre but resulted in a perfect fit! Clearances around the jet have been checked and some related design work done, and the engine has since been removed to allow more work on the interior of the car.
Rolling skins for the fin
In mid-March we welcomed back Gary from Panel Craft to roll the skins for the fin. This is a really tricky job involving an "English wheel", which looks like a giant G‑clamp with rollers. Gary and the team from the RAF's 71 Squadron manoeuvred the large aluminium sheets back and forth through this to put a 3D curve in the metal, so the skin follows the aluminium fin structure perfectly with no gaps. These are now being drilled off ready to be riveted to the fin structure.
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Ti floor & delta
Among the constant stream of parts arriving at the Technical Centre, the last of the components for the Ti floor (the assembly under the monocoque) and the delta (which encloses the lower rear suspension) have arrived, marking another major milestone in the Car build.
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Wheels
The first batch of desert wheels are now being machined – this is the first stage in the final set of processes they will go through before being ready to go to South Africa. Meanwhile our second set of runway wheels is being completed ready for the Newquay trials.
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Catch up with all the latest BLOODHOUND news on our website or on Twitter @BLOODHOUND_SSC
 NEW! 1K Club family membership
Support BLOODHOUND by signing up for the new Family Gold membership of the 1K Club. In addition to the Bronze 1K Club benefits, you’ll get a signed membership certificate, an invitation for up to four people to see the car run in the UK – currently planned for August this year – and four extra chances to win a trip to see it run in South Africa… and more! Find out all the details in the 1K Club area on our website.
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 Visit us at the BLOODHOUND Technical Centre
The BLOODHOUND 1K Club member visits to the Technical Centre are becoming more popular as the Car gets nearer to completion. The next event on 2 May is full but we are now taking bookings for Sunday 18 June to see the car that will run in South Africa and meet some of the BLOODHOUND team. Join the 1K Club now and then sign up to visit.
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NEW! Composite Club for smaller sponsors
Small businesses can now sponsor BLOODHOUND by joining our new Composite Club. For just £1,500+VAT you get a 25x25mm logo on one side of the race Car (and the show cars), two CGI renderings of the Car, a Club email signature and other sponsorship rights. Please get in touch with us if you are a small business and would like to find out more.
Explore BLOODHOUND BLAST
The new free, BLOODHOUND BLAST channel has gone live on the Dendrite social learning platform with a vast array of project and education-related content for ages 5–18. Go to www.bloodhoundblast.com to access the content, sign up to create your own community and spread the word! If you haven’t received your invite from Dendrite please get in touch via education@bloodhoundssc.com to sign up.
We have recently added all the BLOODHOUND Weekly Maths Questions, so have fun with those too!
How to build a jet engine from junk
Find out how BLOODHOUND Ambassadors from Rolls-Royce inspire primary school children to enjoy science, technology, engineering and maths by building a jet engine from junk, firing an ‘airzooka’ and then playing with water rockets and cars powered by balloons and elastic bands.
Events
Here’s where you’ll next find BLOODHOUND – check our Events page regularly for more events as they are confirmed:
ARC High Performance Computing Showcase Event
14 April (from 2pm)
Oxford e-Research Centre
Commercial Vehicle Show
14-16 April
NEC, Birmingham
Bath and West Show
27–30 May
Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN
Shop
When you see coverage of BLOODHOUND in the media, you’ll notice that we always wear our BLOODHOUND polo shirts or fleece jackets. So become part of our ‘virtual’ team by wearing yours (polo £20, fleece £35) or one of our t-shirts (£15), rugby shirts (£35) or hoodies (£35).
Find these accessories along with BLOODHOUND branded clothing and other goodies at the BLOODHOUND online shop.
