BREAKING THE RECORD

The performance curve below illustrates the life-cycle of a run to over 1,000mph. The blue curve, and the left-hand scale, shows the velocity against the distance from the start of the run. The red curve, with the right-hand scale, indicates the longitudinal acceleration of the car. Positive acceleration means that the car is accelerating, and negative acceleration indicates that the car is decelerating.

BLOODHOUND SSC will accelerate from rest using an EJ-200 jet engine, taking it up to 300mph.   

At that point (a) the rocket will be ignited, so that it and the jet are operating simultaneously, thereby increasing the acceleration to well over 2g.

Having reached maximum speed (1,050mph), the rocket thrust will be stopped (point b), but the jet engine will continue burning for a few seconds.

During this brief period, the car will decelerate at about 1.5g. When the jet engine also stops (point c), the deceleration will peak at nearly 3g.

When the vehicle slows to subsonic speeds the aerodynamic drag will reduce dramatically, slowing the deceleration of the vehicle. Two additional deceleration peaks are shown on the curves (points d and e), indicating the release of two parachutes. At low speeds, below 200mph, hydraulically operated disc brakes can be used.

The Land Speed record is calculated from the average times of the car over two runs, completed within the space of an hour. The ability to control the car’s stopping, and therefore the turn-round time, is key to the success of the record attempt.