The ThrustSSC Team are scheduled to return to Jordan to continue high-speed testing of ThrustSSC on 3rd May.

Live Information

The very latest status of ThrustSSC can be seen through the Microplex Web Camera in the workshop in P8R Shed, DRA, Farnborough:

Please note:

• The Web Camera photo is updated every 15 minutes
• ThrustSSC will not be in the picture during tests or visits to exhibitions
• If the image is black, it's night-time and the workshop lights are off!

Please click here for more information on the Microplex Web Camera.

Please note: The Microplex Web Camera will be taken offline on Wednesday 30th April for packing and transport to Jordan. It will be back online on Tuesday 6th May.

Individual Status Reports

Car

1. Design modifications to the rear suspension and steering to cure the high-speed shimmy are complete.
2. Work to bring ThrustSSC up to supersonic standard is complete.
3. Painting of the car in BASF Supersonic Black is complete.
4. Testing on the Farnborough runway in preparation for Jordan is complete.

Team

The Team are in good shape and looking forward to their return to Jordan!

Jafr Desert, Jordan

1. The Jafr Desert, Jordan, has dried well after the winter floods and is now usable. The surface is generally better than 1996, with less repair work required to the Bedouin crossing tracks. Hardness is currently 14 or better on the California Bearing Ratio scale.
2. Andrew Noble is in Jordan making preparations for the team's visit. The Mach 1 Club advance desert preparation team join him on Wednesday.
3. The tracks require surveying, marking and 'fodding' (clearing of stones and debris). Much of the stone clearance is already done from the 1996 operations.

Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA

Negotiations with the Bureau of Land Management are underway for the operating permit for this autumn's head-to-head with Craig Breedlove and the Spirit of America.

Equipment

Being prepared for Jordan.

Jeremy Duck

After hiding in a corner of P8R Shed for a few days, Jeremy Duck is still around. Keep looking!

Plans for the coming week

• Car:
  1. Final preparations
  2. Transport to Jordan via Stansted
• Pit Station Trailer
  1. Load with equipment for transit
  2. Transport to Jordan via Stansted
• Car Trailer
  1. Load with car and equipment for transit
  2. Transport to Jordan via Stansted
• Equipment
  1. Preparation and packing
  2. Transport to Jordan via Stansted
• Jafr Desert
  1. Complete marking and grading
  2. Initiate 'fodding' (removal of large stones and foreign objects)
• Web Site
  1. The Web Site development computers, satellite communications equipment, and the Web Camera will be packed on 3rd May for transit to Jordan. (We expect to be back online from Al Jafr on Tuesday 6th May.)

Please check our Runs Database for the very latest information on the progress of ThrustSSC - the database is always updated as soon as possible after the car runs - and always before any report is written and published.

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