Day two of the ThrustSSC team's time on the Black Rock desert has been spent completing the operational base and installing the ThrustSSC supersonic car in the rapidly erected Aireshelta Hangar and preparing the car for its first runs. Not only does this involve checking the car's systems following the Antonov flight from Stansted, but also fitting the rear wheel fairings - the latter being scheduled in while the systems checks are the critical path.
The ThrustSSC Base is positioned about three miles West from the Spirit of America Compound and both are on opposite sides of the 13 mile track and at the South end. A friendly relationship has sprung up between the teams and both are learning from each other.The weather is fine and cloudless and the desert is in the best condition that anyone can remember.
A major problem facing the ThrustSSC team has been the loss of the biodegradable track markings due to recent heavy rain. The rain washed out almost all 13 miles of markings and took with it many of the survey marks. At this point there is a major question mark over the teams ability to recover the track quickly.
Efforts are being made to restore the track in time for a first run tomorrow. A contract has been agreed with Medic Air of Reno Nevada to provide a full life support aircraft on site during each run. The Turbo Commander complete with qualified medical support staff will be on site on Black Rock for each ThrustSSC run. This ensures fastest evacuation and complements the extraction skills and equipment possessed by the teams Jaguar XJ-R Kidde Firechase high speed firetender crew.
At 4.14pm local Breedlove made his first run in Spirit of America, which touched an unofficial 227mph. He plans to run again on Monday 8th.
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