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| Bloodhound supersonic carries out first public runs | Bloodhound supersonic carries out first public runs |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Bloodhound Super Sonic Car has conducted its first public runs. | The Bloodhound Super Sonic Car has conducted its first public runs. |
| Using just the thrust of its jet engine, the vehicle raced to 210mph (340km/h) down the runway at Newquay Airport in southwest England. | |
| Ultimately, Bloodhound will be fitted with a rocket motor as well so that it can go 1,000mph (1,610km/h). | Ultimately, Bloodhound will be fitted with a rocket motor as well so that it can go 1,000mph (1,610km/h). |
| That will not happen for two to three years, but the Newquay tests have given the team confidence that the car can achieve its designed performance. | That will not happen for two to three years, but the Newquay tests have given the team confidence that the car can achieve its designed performance. |
| Driven by RAF Wing Commander Andy Green, Bloodhound SSC made two trips down Newquay's 1.7-mile (2.7km) runway. | Driven by RAF Wing Commander Andy Green, Bloodhound SSC made two trips down Newquay's 1.7-mile (2.7km) runway. |
| Climb inside Andy Green's cockpit | |
| More than 3,000 VIPs and supporters club members were in attendance to see the Eurofighter EJ200 jet engine take the vehicle from a standing start to 200mph in about nine seconds. | More than 3,000 VIPs and supporters club members were in attendance to see the Eurofighter EJ200 jet engine take the vehicle from a standing start to 200mph in about nine seconds. |
| As well as the ear-splitting noise, the crowd was treated to the bright glare of the engine on reheat. | As well as the ear-splitting noise, the crowd was treated to the bright glare of the engine on reheat. |
| "We did two back-to-back 200mph runs in a five-tonne car. It felt like about eight seconds, which was what we were expecting," Wing Commander Green said on stepping out of the cockpit. | |
| "It was a real hard work-out for the brakes. Probably up to somewhere close to a thousand degrees, the front brakes were smoking furiously after the second run. They just started to flicker with flame - very sort of Formula One, but in a proper high-speed car. And that was exactly what we were hoping for," he told BBC News. | |
| These "slow-speed" trials are really at the limit of what can be done here in the UK. | These "slow-speed" trials are really at the limit of what can be done here in the UK. |
| To go faster, Bloodhound will have to go abroad. | To go faster, Bloodhound will have to go abroad. |
| Next year, it hopes to be on Hakskeen Pan in Northern Cape, South Africa. | Next year, it hopes to be on Hakskeen Pan in Northern Cape, South Africa. |
| This dried-out lake bed is super-flat and extends for 12 miles (19km), providing ample space to get up to some very high speeds and then slow and stop safely. | This dried-out lake bed is super-flat and extends for 12 miles (19km), providing ample space to get up to some very high speeds and then slow and stop safely. |
| Testing in Newquay these past few weeks makes the team believe the car can go 650mph (1,050km/h) with just the EJ200. | Testing in Newquay these past few weeks makes the team believe the car can go 650mph (1,050km/h) with just the EJ200. |
| That is not enough to break the world land speed record (763mph/1,227km/h), but it would take the vehicle into a performance region where engineers would learn a lot more about its capabilities. | That is not enough to break the world land speed record (763mph/1,227km/h), but it would take the vehicle into a performance region where engineers would learn a lot more about its capabilities. |
| At over 400mph, the wheels can no longer turn as fast as the car moves and act more like the rudders on a boat. And at 650mph, some of the airflows over Bloodhound's body would approach the sound barrier. | At over 400mph, the wheels can no longer turn as fast as the car moves and act more like the rudders on a boat. And at 650mph, some of the airflows over Bloodhound's body would approach the sound barrier. |
| This is all knowledge needed to go 800mph in 2019, and then up to 1,000mph in 2020 - when the rocket technology becomes available. | This is all knowledge needed to go 800mph in 2019, and then up to 1,000mph in 2020 - when the rocket technology becomes available. |
| This is currently being developed by the Norwegian aerospace and defence company Nammo. | This is currently being developed by the Norwegian aerospace and defence company Nammo. |
| The Scandinavian firm expects to have two versions available for Bloodhound. The first - a so-called monopropellant motor - should provide sufficient thrust to set a new land speed record. | The Scandinavian firm expects to have two versions available for Bloodhound. The first - a so-called monopropellant motor - should provide sufficient thrust to set a new land speed record. |
| The second - what is termed a hybrid motor - will be even more powerful and will be incorporated into Bloodhound following some aerodynamic upgrades to its rear end. | The second - what is termed a hybrid motor - will be even more powerful and will be incorporated into Bloodhound following some aerodynamic upgrades to its rear end. |
| "The total thrust we think we need is about 20 tonnes. So that's a thrust-to-weight ratio of about two-and-a-half. The car when we're breaking records will weigh about eight tonnes," said Bloodhound technical director Mark Chapman. | |
| Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |