BLOODHOUND SSC – a supersonic 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.
Happy Christmas to our supporters!
As another busy BLOODHOUND year draws to a close, the BLOODHOUND Team would like to wish all of our supporters – including our sponsors, Ambassadors, members of the 1K Club and anyone who has visited us, bought merchandise or supported us in any other way – a very Merry Christmas. Meanwhile, here’s our latest news – and we’ll be back with more in the New Year.
It really is rocket science!
The BLOODHOUND Project is aiming to develop new engineers, not new engineering. As Andy Green explains in his latest diary, new technology is difficult and expensive to produce, and we have to assume that’s it’s unreliable until it’s been properly tested and developed. However, that’s not quite true for BLOODHOUND’s rocket programme where we do appear to be in the ‘developing future technology’ business, whether we like it or not. And the good news is that we seem to be rather good at it.
How do you refuel BLOODHOUND?
The World Land Speed Record is the average speed set over two runs, one in each direction, within 1 hour. So the BLOODHOUND Team will have to service and refuel the car in a very fast pit stop. Key to the Team's success will be refuelling the rocket system with concentrated hydrogen peroxide, known as high test peroxide (HTP). To do this they have developed a mobile fuelling station and a pumping system which they tested last week. This will replenish the rocket oxidiser at 5.3 litres per second, allowing the Team to pump the required 800 litres of HTP in just 1 minute 42 seconds – safely, without spilling a drop.
{C}{C}
{C}{C}
How do you test hydraulics without the jet engine?
Running diagnostic checks on BLOODHOUND’s hydraulics is a challenge, as the on-board pump that powers them is driven by the jet engine – and we can’t switch that on in the workshop every time our engineers need to perform vital tests! So motion control company Parker Hannifin has provided two hydraulic power packs to allow us to test components such as the winglets, the airbrake doors and the actuators in the rocket’s oxidiser circuit. The packs will be used both in the UK and in South Africa.
{C}{C}
Be inspired this holiday!
Do something different with the family this Christmas – take time out from the Christmas rush to enjoy a Rocket Car Experience at the BLOODHOUND Technical Centre in Avonmouth, near Bristol.
"Thanks for the great day out for my son, he thought it was the best thing he had ever done." Russell Thomas
Enjoy interactive presentations, build your own rocket car, see the real BLOODHOUND Car and go home with your own goodie bag. There are two 3-hour workshops each day on 21, 22 and 23 December. Numbers are very limited, however, so book now at http://bit.ly/1Ghr5ag.
"Josh enjoyed the workshop so much that he now wants to be an engineer!" Nicola Wilson
{C}{C}
Book a team building day with us
You’ve seen BLOODHOUND… Now come and join the adventure! In the run-up to Christmas, BLOODHOUND’s inspirational Team are offering highly motivational Team Building Days at our Technical Centre. Bring the excitement of the world’s first 1,000mph car and the extraordinary stories behind this innovative and ground-breaking project into your organisation.
{C}{C}
Being an Ambassador at BLOODHOUND Expo
The BLOODHOUND Ambassadors played a vital role during the debut of the Car at the BLOODHOUND Expo in London in September. As we reach the end of a busy year, we asked more of our Ambassadors to share their experiences. If these inspire you to join us as an Ambassador, you can find out more about the Ambassador programme in the Education section of our website and then please sign up using the link on that page.
We’d like to thank all of our Ambassadors for their help with the Project this year and to thank John Landshoff, Tony Barber and Allan Reid for their stories.
{C}{C}
Spot BLOODHOUND on RAC trucks
The RAC is a huge fan of BLOODHOUND and has added us to the livery of its 1,500 breakdown trucks. See if you can spot one with a BLOODHOUND image and let us know on social media using the hashtag #RACBloodhound, either on our Twitter or Facebook channels. Let’s see how many you can spot between you!
And if you’re an RAC member, remember that you can purchase a name on BLOODHOUND’s fin and Bronze club membership for a special RAC members’ price.
{C}{C}
Buy a supersonic Christmas present!
If you're looking for that extra special Christmas present, there’s still time for you to put someone's name on our fin from just £15 so that they can see it go supersonic when BLOODHOUND races in South Africa. It helps support the BLOODHOUND Project and is bound to be a talking point on Christmas Day, so order now!
