RE: Bloodhound SSC - "we're winning!"
Discussion
r1ch said:
Are you not excited about a car that does 1000mph?
No.It's very difficult to see how any of the technology required to make a car do 1000 mph could be used in a practical application. It's an exercise in simply breaking a record that they already hold, which is just not that interesting to me.
thewheelman said:
I know I'm not excited by it in anyway. You can hardly call it a car, it's more like a jet with no wings.
The guys who are actually doing that (With an Eagle IIRC) are unlikely to go as fast. This is a jet and a rocket on wheels and is IMHO utterly inspiring. Not least because the driver Andy Green has balls of unobtanium. Watch the YouTube video of Thrust SSC where it kicks sideways at circa 500 mph and he just rolls off the gas for a second while continuing a calm commentary 
Otispunkmeyer said:
can't recruit engineers?
Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We hear this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Our company is struggling to recuit enough engineers to fill all the positions availible. We actually have to look abroad.Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We hear this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 20th July 11:44
Devil2575 said:
r1ch said:
Are you not excited about a car that does 1000mph?
No.It's very difficult to see how any of the technology required to make a car do 1000 mph could be used in a practical application. It's an exercise in simply breaking a record that they already hold, which is just not that interesting to me.
thewheelman said:
Caractacus said:
richb77 said:
Without the likes of you pushing the boundaries of technology man kind would stagnate.
^^^ This, exactly. If mankind ceases to 'push the envelope' what happens?
Plain logic, really.
ptn said:
German said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
can't recruit engineers?
Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We here this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Any Engineers looking for good pay, job prospects and respect should learn German, simple as that. Currently need 80,000 new engineers and there are so few studying the required amount will only increase. Also every other tit cant call themselves a "waste water management engineer" (that'd make you the poo pipe unblocker then would it mate?) so its still a respected thing to do Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We here this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Ill make this very simple. If you go to Germany, find a pretty young Fraulein and a tweedy jacket, shirt and tie wearing chap and he says he is a manufacturing engineer who designs and produces high performance ducting for factories all over the world, she will still tell him he is a dull little f
ker. If the chap however says he is designs and produces jet fighters and rockets she will look at him in a more interesting light.Transport that situation to Britain and the same happens.
- Some* engineers are highly respected in Britain, just like *some* engineers are not in Germany and elsewhere in the world.
Otispunkmeyer said:
German said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
can't recruit engineers?
Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We here this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Any Engineers looking for good pay, job prospects and respect should learn German, simple as that. Currently need 80,000 new engineers and there are so few studying the required amount will only increase. Also every other tit cant call themselves a "waste water management engineer" (that'd make you the poo pipe unblocker then would it mate?) so its still a respected thing to do Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We here this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
I had the pleasure of meeting Richard earlier this year when he was speaking at one of our company events. Richard has some great stories to tell and recounts them in an engaging style. If you ever get the chance do attend one of his talks. His project has probably done more for engineering in this country than any government minister could dream of.
Devil2575 said:
Otispunkmeyer said:
can't recruit engineers?
Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We hear this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Our company is struggling to recuit enough engineers to fill all the positions availible. We actually have to look abroad.Seems to be one of these things that is slightly conflicting. Can't recruit engineers... Yet there are probably loads of engineers out there wanting a job... they just don't tick all the many boxes the recruitment people unrealistically expect of people. But I bet that is also because aren't willing to pay for good engineering talent. We hear this argument all the time, that big companies pay top employees vast amounts of dough as a means of keeping and attracting the top "talent". Why doesn't this apply in engineering? heck it should apply in any job... you want the best, pay the best. simple.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Friday 20th July 11:44
Ha, rings a bell. In Lee Iococcas book, you discover why the sales people get promoted to the top of the tree. It was because, at motor shows and such, the only company bods 'invited' were upper management and sales. Thus the sales guys 'got known' by senior management, whilst the clever engineers were still locked way in their office, actually engineering the cars that sold.
I read a super interesting article, possibly in Top Gear mag but I'm not sure, a while back about the work they have to do with the aero balance for this thing. Given that the speeds get so high, downforce a relatively low speeds like 200mph will force it into the ground at top speed so they have to forecast the aero effects over the whole speed range.
I think its great that projects like this exist and even better that they're UK based.
I think its great that projects like this exist and even better that they're UK based.
Pistonwot said:
I agree that us British are utterly miserable when it comes to rewarding great people who make great discoveries.
"Whats that you say Bertie,,, youve made a cold fusion reactor the size of a Tennis ball and it will power Manchester forever for free. Well done old bean",,
IF Bertie is lucky he may get 1 pat on the back as his Tax increases and peers sack and ridicule him into poverty for being a smartarse.
My opposition to the idea isn't quite as strong as that, but i don't think building a car to do 1000mph is a "great discovery". "Whats that you say Bertie,,, youve made a cold fusion reactor the size of a Tennis ball and it will power Manchester forever for free. Well done old bean",,
IF Bertie is lucky he may get 1 pat on the back as his Tax increases and peers sack and ridicule him into poverty for being a smartarse.
This isn't mankind reaching for the stars or moving the species forward through technological innovation. This is a project of "Because it's there".
Thrust SSC already has the land speed record, so what's the point of Bloodhound exactly?
This is the wrong kind of inspiration to sell to children because once they've succeeded, what's next? Mach 2? Why? I don't think we should be encouraging our kids to utilise their abilities in frivolous activities that count for nothing in our evolution.
As a species we're so preoccupied with who's in the box with us, we're missing the opportunity to look outside it. The time, money and expertise that has gone into this project is to the detriment of an idea that might actually mean something.
robinessex said:
Ha, rings a bell. In Lee Iococcas book, you discover why the sales people get promoted to the top of the tree. It was because, at motor shows and such, the only company bods 'invited' were upper management and sales. Thus the sales guys 'got known' by senior management, whilst the clever engineers were still locked way in their office, actually engineering the cars that sold.
I reckoned it was because the accountants could understand what salesmen did but couldn't understand engineers, also they rely on the fact that engineers find their work fascinating and want to keep doing it.BarbaricAvatar said:
My opposition to the idea isn't quite as strong as that, but i don't think building a car to do 1000mph is a "great discovery".
This isn't mankind reaching for the stars or moving the species forward through technological innovation. This is a project of "Because it's there".
Thrust SSC already has the land speed record, so what's the point of Bloodhound exactly?
This is the wrong kind of inspiration to sell to children because once they've succeeded, what's next? Mach 2? Why? I don't think we should be encouraging our kids to utilise their abilities in frivolous activities that count for nothing in our evolution.
As a species we're so preoccupied with who's in the box with us, we're missing the opportunity to look outside it. The time, money and expertise that has gone into this project is to the detriment of an idea that might actually mean something.
You're missing the point. The end goal isn't necessarily going to move us forward, but things like the design methods using so much computer modelling are already pushing the boundaries of what we can do. This isn't mankind reaching for the stars or moving the species forward through technological innovation. This is a project of "Because it's there".
Thrust SSC already has the land speed record, so what's the point of Bloodhound exactly?
This is the wrong kind of inspiration to sell to children because once they've succeeded, what's next? Mach 2? Why? I don't think we should be encouraging our kids to utilise their abilities in frivolous activities that count for nothing in our evolution.
As a species we're so preoccupied with who's in the box with us, we're missing the opportunity to look outside it. The time, money and expertise that has gone into this project is to the detriment of an idea that might actually mean something.
The point of this project is to inspire a generation to look at engineering in a new light, and that's a positive, surely?They can't all go on to design land speed record so most will end up doing more "worthwhile" work.
DanDC5 said:
OdramaSwimLaden said:
r1ch said:
arkenphel said:
Riiiight, clearing millions of square feet of rock doesn't quite sound environmentally friendly. I'm no greenie, but just for the sake of setting a LSR it sounds rather pointlessly destructive.
Good for the local economy, I suppose, but I thought the bloodhound team were short of money...
Are you not excited about a car that does 1000mph?Good for the local economy, I suppose, but I thought the bloodhound team were short of money...
k you're going on about with this comment?It was a flippant remark about how amazingly fast cars today seem not so fast a few years down the road...(that was a pun). A gross exaggeration for effect.
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