Monday 13th May 2013

Rolls-Royce sponsors Bloodhound SSC

News of engine manufacturer's backing lifts land speed record project

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Rolls-Royce has today announced that it’ll throw its support behind Richard Noble’s Bloodhound SSC land speed record attempt.

Cosworth F1 engine will pump fuel. Blimey

It’s the first time that the aerospace engine manufacturer – distinct from the car company that shares its name since 1973 – will offer its backing to a land speed record attempt. That’s despite the fact that Rolls-Royce engines have long been a mainstay for British speed record seekers, with Noble himself using them in his previous triumphs, Thrust SSC and Thrust 2. Donald Campbell’s Bluebird cars and boats also received Rolls Royce power, as well as a host of other land-, sea- and air-speed record attempts.

The company’s backing will come in the form of support, both financial and technical, as well as of Bloodhound’s global education programme, which aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. It’ll also mean that the Rolls-Royce logo will now be displayed on the cowling of the Eurojet EJ200 engine that powers Bloodhound. In its original application, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the EJ200 would have developed around 20,000lb thrust, though in Bloodhound it’ll be combined with a custom-designed hybrid rocket and a Cosworth Formula One 2.4-litre V8... erm... fuel pump. It will, in short, be rather pokey.  Enough to allow driver Andy Green to breach that magical 1,000mph mark? Or indeed, to keep at bay the efforts of Waldo Stakes? We’ll be waiting to find out with bated breath!

[PascalBuyens]

Hmmm... I wouldn't mind one of those fuel pumps

[rohrl]

Ah, that Rolls-Royce. I thought they might be about to trim Andy's cockpit in walnut and ruched cream leather.

[4a4]

Yeah, but is it quicker than a Saxo round McDonald's car park?

[UltimaCH]

Great news indeed and shows a positive response to the professionalism of the project.

[V8 FOU]

PascalBuyens said:

Hmmm... I wouldn't mind one of those fuel pumps

But what about the fuel pump that drives the fuel pump....err

[court]

Andy Green told us about this a couple of weeks ago at a 1K Club meeting but was embargoed till the official announcement. We've got another meeting at their new Technical Centre in a couple of weeks. It's absolutely fascinating stuff, I recommend joining!

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/shop/1k-club-membersh...

[IN51GHT]

court said:

Andy Green told us about this a couple of weeks ago at a 1K Club meeting but was embargoed till the official announcement. We've got another meeting at their new Technical Centre in a couple of weeks. It's absolutely fascinating stuff, I recommend joining!

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/shop/1k-club-membersh...

Equally we really enjoy telling the 1K club how we are are, finally, after many years of calculations & studies making some huge steps fwds and have large car parts arriving.

Edited by IN51GHT on Monday 13th May 17:13

[filski666]

court said:

Andy Green told us about this a couple of weeks ago at a 1K Club meeting but was embargoed till the official announcement. We've got another meeting at their new Technical Centre in a couple of weeks. It's absolutely fascinating stuff, I recommend joining!

http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/shop/1k-club-membersh...

I am going to the event on 26th - taking my 7 year old daughter - haven't been to any Bloodhound open days, but went to a few of the Thrust SSC Mach 1 Club days - the guys in the team are great, very friendly, really know their onions and fascinating to talk to.

[Gorbyrev]

rohrl said:

Ah, that Rolls-Royce. I thought they might be about to trim Andy's cockpit in walnut and ruched cream leather.

And give it "RR" logos in the wheel centres that stay the right way up at 1000mph!!

Top tech and makes you proud to be British.

[andyps]

Great to see this, the support both technical and financial I am sure will be great for the team, and also shows the capability of British organisations technologically.

I will join the 1K club, have been meaning to do that for ages so thanks for the reminder.

[sebhaque]

We had a mock-up of the Bloodhound in the atrium today (I work at Rolls). It's a big old bit of kit! Andy Green and Richard Noble were on site to give a talk as well.

BTW PH, it's Rolls-Royce with a hyphen

[chickensoup]

Wonder how the eurofighter stops itself falling out the sky without a fancy F1 fuel pump

[McWigglebum4th]

chickensoup said:

Wonder how the eurofighter stops itself falling out the sky without a fancy F1 fuel pump

As the jet engine is basically 1st and 2nd gear to get it rolling

The F1 engined fuel pump is for the rocket motor

[gsd2000]

its great news

I was just wondering how the engineers were picked for this project as its an amazing project to be part of

[Mini1275]

gsd2000 said:

its great news

I was just wondering how the engineers were picked for this project as its an amazing project to be part of

Surely the guy behind the rocket on Bloodhound was picked on the strength of his moustache alone!.

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I've been keeping a close eye on the whole project, it's absolutely outstanding and makes me feel proud to be British.

[gsd2000]

Mini1275 said:

gsd2000 said:

its great news

I was just wondering how the engineers were picked for this project as its an amazing project to be part of

Surely the guy behind the rocket on Bloodhound was picked on the strength of his moustache alone!.

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I've been keeping a close eye on the whole project, it's absolutely outstanding and makes me feel proud to be British.

I might actually join the club to keep up to date, plus it helps to support the project

[metalsteve]

I worked at the pyestock gas turbine test facility during the late 90's when we were running development/prototype EJ200s in the test cell. Amazing place to work. I'll be following bloodhound closely, feel i played my small part in the development of the EJ200.

[200bhp]

PH Please can we have BOTH of those images as wallpaper of the week???

[stephen300o]

Looks like a Peugeot and is too expensive. I'd get a Cayman instead.

[IN51GHT]

stephen300o said:

Looks like a Peugeot and is too expensive. I'd get a Cayman instead.

Really??? What Peugeot LOL