The Spey engines have been successfully run up to full power on the test bed (see previous Lead Article "Spey 205s On Test At DRA Pyestock"), and tie-down tests with the engines fitted in the car are scheduled for the end of this week - the time of truth when Thrust SSC moves under its own power is approaching!
Once the engines have been successfully run in the car, it will be tested at low speeds (up to 200mph) on the runway at Farnborough in order to check out the various systems. Once low-speed runs have been successfully completed, the team will depart for Al Jafr, Jordan, for high-speed test running on the Jafr Desert prior to the head-to-head with Craig Breedlove on Black Rock Desert in the States during September and October.
The project is led by Richard Noble, the current holder of the World Land Speed Record at 633.468mph, while the car will be driven by RAF fighter-pilot Andy Green. But what of the rest of the Thrust SSC Team - how do they view the job awaiting them in Jordan, and what do they think the future holds? We took a walk around Thrust SSC’s base in Q Shed, DRA Farnborough, to find out...
When asking any question of aerodynamicist Ron Ayers, one always feels that he is giving a measured, careful, and well thought out response. This time is no exception: "You have probably heard me say at Open Days that in one sense this project has grown on me. When I started work on it I never expected anything to come of it - I didn’t expect it to be feasible. It was only when I started ticking off the technical problems that it dawned on me that it was possible!"
"I didn’t want to do this unless I was confident that we could do it safely - we are now confident that we can do it with a very high level of safety. Excitement is coming to the fore as we find out if the technical solutions to the problems will work, and we will continue to modify the car as we encounter other problems. After all, in addition to being a final product, it is also the first prototype!"
Jerry Bliss is responsible for the vehicle systems, including the computers that will monitor the 147 sensors mounted on the car. His mind is very much focused on the task in hand: "The team is working very hard - 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, sometimes more, and tempers are sometimes short! Our focus currently is to successfully complete our tie-down runs - thoughts of Jordan are somewhat distant.
"Going to Jordan is a step in a huge process which has been going on for 4 years. While we are incalculably grateful to Prince Feisal and the Jordanian people for their huge support - and nothing can detract from their contribution to this project - we can only hope we can live up to the faith they have placed in us!"
Robert Atkinson mainly works with Jerry on the electrical systems, and comes straight to the point: "What will it be like? Hard work, hot, and good fun!"
Pete Ross is the Engineering Manager, responsible for the vehicle’s build. He also wastes no words: "Going to Jordan makes all the struggle worthwhile!"
Leigh Remfry is part of the team of technicians working on the car: "We work the equivalent of 2 days every day, 7 days a week. It’s very character building, but it’s all part of being British and growing up! Without the support of all the Mach 1 Club members and volunteers we wouldn’t be at the advanced stage we are at now. I personally would like to thank them all very much - and look forward to their continued contributions. When we finally make it to Black Rock Desert, we hope as many of them as possible can make it - including any Americans who wish to come too!"
Robby Kraike is listening in as he fits some parts in the cockpit and has his answer prepared: "I hope we can meet the deadlines set before us. They always seem unattainable, but we always seem to meet them. If we can get it together for Goodwood, then we will get it together for Jordan. Watch this space!"
Brian Palmer has responsibility for all the transport requirements of the project - whether that be moving the precious engines around the country, or building the Operations Trailer. He has no pre-conceptions: "I don’t know what to expect, to be honest! I expect we will have problems - but I don’t know what with. You’ve got to have an open mind - it’s a new machine after all. I just hope that everything is perfect on my side - I don’t foresee any problems there."
Glynne Bowsher was on the team that set the current record with Thrust 2, and produced the mechanical design of Thrust SSC: "We’re progressing towards completion - next week should see the car out. Jordan will be a new thing for me - I’ve never been there before. It is one of the places to go in the Middle East, though!"
Jeremy Davey coordinates the use of the Internet - including this Web Site - which will be a key component of the team’s communications in the desert. He is pragmatic about the upcoming runs: "There can be no doubt that Jordan is going to be incredibly hard work. And, bearing in mind that this is very much a development program, we will have problems with the car - but I am sure the team will overcome them. Nick Chapman and I are looking forward to Jordan immensely - at last we will be able to really focus our efforts on the Web Site. With everyone together in the same place at the same time there is so much we will be able to do in reporting progress to the world! We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve too, so watch the Web Site closely for some significant changes which will enable us to relay progress as and when it happens!
"We get asked a lot now if we will be receiving email and following the Web Forums when we are overseas, and the answer is an emphatic ‘Yes!’. Thanks to Hughes’ satellite capabilities we will be online from the middle of the desert as the car runs! What better way could there be to keep everyone informed?"
 |
 |
 |
||
| Sponsored by | This site best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3 | |||
 |
 |
 |
||