Rocket man takes aim at 1,000mph barrier in SA

·6 Feb 2013

A man is set to be strapped to what is essentially a jet engine on wheels as he attempts a record-breaking speed of 1,000 miles per hour (1,600km/h) in South Africa.

The team behind the Bloodhound project, which includes sponsorship from tech firms Intel and Cisco, aims to make a bid for the land speed record in 2014.

The car will arrive in South Africa later this year for “low speed” testing, which will in themselves break the sound barrier.

The land record attempt explained here:

On Saturday and Sunday the 9th and 10th of February, the V&A Waterfront will house the Bloodhound Super Sonic Car (SCC) Simulator, offering the public the chance to experience what it might be like to drive a supersonic car.

While the ultimate goal of the project is to break the land speed record, with Andy Green, a British Royal Air Force pilot and current World Land Speed Record holder, its overarching goal is to inspire young people about engineering and to consider engineering careers.

“There is a shortage of scientists, engineers and mathematicians and we urgently need our young people to be motivated to enjoy and study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects right through to university,” Cisco said.

Team members of the project, conceived in October 2008, have already visited schools in South Africa to drum up excitement about the possibilities created through physics, materials science, design, and technology.

“The Bloodhound Education Programme is where young people will acquire the skills and develop talents that will encourage them to engage in STEM subjects and overcome our global challenges,” Cisco said.

The pencil-shaped car is 12ft (4m) long, 18ins (45.7cm) in diameter and weighs 992lb (450kg).

The record-breaking speed attempts will be tested by 2014 on the Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape region of South Africa.