As usual, this report starts out on the Black Rock Desert, Mile 7, one-half mile west of track. It's Sunday afternoon and somewhat noisier than usual - as well as Matt, you have the Paris-Match people, and a visitor from our sponsor DERA. It's also a really hot afternoon, so you're taking advantage of the BBC's RV to stay in the cool while you type.
Saturday afternoon's run produced some good data - even if the second run of the pair had to be cancelled when ThrustSSC encountered a hydraulic problem. Comp2, with the processor boards swapped between itself and Comp1, had failed about 50 yards from the end of the run. Comp1 looks after the car's safety and the safety-critical sensors, while Comp2 handles the rest of data logging - the data loss was not significant - but most important of all, the systems experts had another piece for their jigsaw in diagnosing the computer problem: we might have a faulty processor.
Robert Atkinson has been searching the Internet to find a supplier of a replacement processor, which he believes has now been superceded: thanks to Hughes Network Systems, we are online on the desert with a 400kbps link - much faster than the average modem. In addition we have put our requirements on our Help Wanted page - in case someone can help. Work has continued on checking circuits and connections as well in case the fault lies there.
Further tests are required to identify the exact cause of the computer shutdowns, so two new run profiles have been drawn up by Aerodynamicist Ron Ayers. On the first, the Jordan software will be used, giving the fixed active rear - if that goes well, the latest software will be used on the second. Hopefully that will enable the systems experts to determine once and for all whether the problem is hardware or software. The runs will also enable the team to continue the development program towards the speed of sound on land.
The first profile calls for Mach 0.85 - although Andy will drive by the ASI not the Machmeter - which in the heat of a Black Rock afternoon equates to some 615mph indicated, 658mph ground speed. Ron calculates his 'bottom line' - the average speed through the measured mile - as being around 651mph. The second run will be Mach 0.88, and with the newer software version in the computers, Andy will drive this one to the Machmeter. Assuming an air temperature as evening approaches of 20C, that equates to approximately 636mphi, 681mphg, with a 671mphg bottom line.
I can see the land speed aficionados stretching for their calculators already - but I'll do the sums for everyone else. If the two runs go according to plan, and if the team can turn the car around in less than the prescribed hour, that would give Andy Green a new World Land Speed Record. To take the title from Richard Noble, he must achieve a two-way average of 639.8mph.
A record is not the objective of the afternoon, however, as Operations Manager Martyn Davidson emphasises at the briefing. These are two engineering development runs - no corners should be cut (and none ever will be) to get the car turned round quickly. It is operations as normal - but a new record is just a possibility. Ron Ayers talks the team through the new profiles - emphasising that for the first run at least, Andy may have to alternate between 'max mil' (full dry power) and 'min AB' (minimum afterburner) to keep the speed in the right range through the measured mile. Once speeds increase he will be able to do the runs on afterburners all the way, making his life somewhat easier.
Rollout is delayed while some last minute panelling is looked after. At 1640 Jayne lets everyone know that Firechase has completed the last minute 'fod' sweep of the track with nothing to report - the tracks are clear of anything that might damage the car's engines or wheels. Everyone awaits SSC coming on the air.
1656 - Pit Station is on the air again: "All Thrust callsigns, members of the public and interested parties, stand by for information broadcast from ThrustSSC. The panels are on, hydraulics bled, and the suspension has been set. Apologies for the delay - ThrustSSC is a complex machine." Jayne Millington is getting quite a following out here among the spectators who listen avidly to our radio channels and admire her clear calm radio manner.
Time ticks on. The work on the car is taking longer than expected. Unknown to us out here on the desert, ThrustSSC has developed another minor hydraulic leak. Eventually the decision is taken to postpone the runs until tomorrow - two runs can not be safely achieved in the time available, nor can one run with an hour-long tow to or from the North end of the desert. Safety must be paramount - the decision is the right one. We will try again tomorrow.
Monday morning. With the Spirit of America team taking an engineering day, there is no need for a 0500 breakfast. At 0930 Martyn briefs the team. The same profiles as were intended for yesterday will be used, but with the lower temperatures and the run profiles governed by Mach number, a record is unlikely. He re-emphasises that these are just engineering development runs.
The suspect processor has not yet been replaced - but the search for a replacement is bearing fruit. Many people have emailed generous offers of help - including Marc Goddard from Texas Instruments who make the TMS320 Digital Signal Processors. He and Robert discuss ThrustSSC's needs and arrangements are made to ship a replacement from Dallas - thanks TI! Once again the Internet has show its worth to the project.
By 1100 hours you are back out in the Merlo with your usual charges following close behind. On the way Alain sets up his remote camera on the roof of the timekeepers RV - he will fire it by radio control. You take up position at Mile 7 and set up your cameras.
1128 - SSC is on the air and Jayne advises all stations (and the listening spectators) that engine start is 5 minutes away. At 1135 SSC is armed and starting engines - 5 minutes to run.
1140 - Jayne checks all stations are ready and the desert is clear. "2 minutes to run. All communications minimise."
A few minutes you hear: "SSC clear to roll. SSC rolling." The dust rises once more over the south end of the playa. As the car enters the measured mile you can see it is a good one. The radio crackles: "Negative chute 1, chute 2 is good". SSC estimates a 1 mile overrun because of the first parachute not firing. Jayne advises 'Recovery'. In the event the car stops at Mile 12.5 and Jayne relays this to all stations.
1149 - "SSC is safe, safe, safe." With non-emergency transmission now permitted, the USAC timekeepers call Pit Station. Kilo was 634.770mph, Mile was 618.556mph, mile to kilo traps was 593.670mph. SSC had accelerated through the measured mile - after checking the acceleration on minimum afterburner for Ron, Andy had kicked in full burners again for some three seconds to get the speed up to that intended?
You pack your equipment and drop off Matt at the Press Area - he wants to get footage of Richard in case he loses his record today. A quick trip to the timekeepers a little closer to the track follows so that the Alain can reload his camera. While you wait, Dave Petrali explains the positioning of the timing traps - the kilometer and the mile share the same exit trap at the north end of the measured mile, with a fraction under 2000 feet between the mile start trap and the mile end trap. On a southbound run they share the same start trap.
Dropping Alain off with the rest of the media, you continue to your next station at Mile 6 and write your report. At 1212, Jayne broadcasts an estimate of 15 to 20 minutes to engine start. At 1229 SSC is back on the air and advises Pit Station of a 10 minute delay. Jayne provides temperature and pressure - it is already 2 degrees Celcius hotter than earlier.
1233 - "SSC is armed.Estimate start within 5 to 10 minutes."
1236 - "Team1, Pit Station."
Chris Cowell responds: "Pit Station, Team1."
"Team 1, estimate 5 minutes to run. Confirm ready."
"Team 1 is ready."
In turn Jayne checks readiness with Mobile Recs, Merlin and the USAC Timekeepers.
"Medic 1" - Dave Hackett is escorting the Medic Air personnel as always - is scrambled from the Press Area to collect the engine oil replenishment kit and some bolts from the Desert Pits and transit them to the SSC. Jayne advises all stations that there will be a short delay while a minor problem is rectified - as we get more and more practised at this, the listening spectators are getting more and more information provided. They certainly appreciate it.
"Pegasus Green" lands and taxis in - John Fack wants to adjust and possibly reload his wing mounted camera - it must be getting some fantastic shots. With the job done, he fires up the Rotax and makes a short hop to the Press Area half a mile away.
At 1305 we hear that the car will run in approximately ten minutes. A record cannot be made now - the hour limit for the turnaround has been exceeded, but record speeds are still possible. Nine minutes later "Hawkeye" (Operation Manager Martyn Davidson) asks Team 1 for an update and is advised of engine start in 3 minutes. Team 1 'copy' and start their Palouste, ready to receive. At 1316 the "5 minutes to run" warning is issued .
SSC calls Pit Station, asking for and receiving wind speed and direction. You can't hear Andy because of atmospheric conditions, but you can hear the Pit Station. At 1325 Jayne is on the air again: "SSC. Clear roll at your discretion."
You can see nothing for what seems like an age, then a black dart travelling at an unbelievably high speed charges out of the reflected sky and though the measured mile. As he approaches the end of the mile Andy begins to slow and makes a planned test of the abort system at high speed: "SSC. Abort initiate. Good engine shutdown. Good chute."
Three minutes after starting, the car is stopped. Another three minutes and Andy calls 'safe'. Dave Petrali is on the air immediately: "Pit Station, this is USAC Timekeepers." Jayne acknowledges and takes down the speeds as they are read out: 689.347 for the kilo, 687.941 for the mile, 685.647 between the mile and kilo traps. From half a mile away you can hear the shouts of joy in the Press Area - ThrustSSC has officially gone faster than any other car in history. It may not be a record, but everyone is still ecstatic. Andy later reports that above 590mph he can hear a buzzing above the cockpit as the shockwave begins to form - an effect he has heard before in Tornado aircraft.
You return to the Pit Station - the atmosphere is electric! The team are shaking hands and hugging each other. Everyone is absolutely delighted - as Richard Noble put it: "We have just had our first big success!" The media are interviewing Andy, Richard, the Design Team, anyone. The emails of congratulation are already coming in - back home in Great Britain everyone has been watching it live on Sky News.
A banner is quickly put together and trailed behind one of the Pegasus microlights - reading "687" in 6-foot-high letters. The data from the car is analysed while the celebrations go on - no computer problems were experienced and Ron, Glynne and Jerry have more information to work with.
It was just two development runs on the way to the project's primary objective of going supersonic on land - but what a result!
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