The Bloodhound name first emerged in the late 2000s, with several prototypes developed over the years, including the Bloodhound SSC. The idea for a supersonic car was conceived in the mid-2000s by Richard Noble and Andy Green, both from the Royal Air Force (RAF). Stuart Edmondson, a former RAF Wing Commander, is credited as the brainchild behind the Bloodhound. The vehicle features a streamlined, airplane-like body with a large fin at the rear and a pointed nose. It measures 12.9 meters (42 feet) long, 3 meters (9.8 feet) tall, and has a wheelbase of 8.9 meters (29 feet).
The Bloodhound LSR is powered by a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine, similar to those found in Eurojet aircraft. This engine contributes to the car's immense power, producing 135,000 thrust horsepower, which is more than eight times the combined power of all Formula One cars on a grid, and 150 times more powerful than a single F1 car. The car is designed to cover a mile (1.6 km) in 3.6 seconds at its top speed. Its solid aluminum wheels, weighing 95 kg each, are designed to rotate at 10,200 revolutions per minute (RPM) at full speed. The rocket's internal temperature can reach 3,000° C, which is twice as hot as the inside of a volcano.
High-speed testing for the Bloodhound LSR took place in South Africa's Kalahari Desert, specifically on the dry Hakskeen Pan riverbed. The local community cleared 21,500,000 square meters of desert by hand to prepare the track. In 2019, during these tests, the Bloodhound LSR achieved a top speed of 628 mph (1,011 km/h), surpassing its 600 mph target. This speed was reached in approximately 50 seconds and over five miles into a run. After reaching peak speed, the car utilized twin parachutes for deceleration, taking about another minute and two miles to come to a complete stop. This achievement made it one of the world's 10 fastest vehicles. The team plans to use the data from 13 test runs to attempt to break the current land speed record within 12 to 18 months.
The Bloodhound LSR team has expressed gratitude to its supporters and sponsors. The vehicle is currently on display at the Coventry Transport Museum while the project seeks investment to fund the final phase of its record attempt. In November 2023, the project was featured in a Sunday Times article regarding a search for a new supersonic driver.
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