Land Speed Contender Firing Into Town

A supersonic car aiming to go faster than the speed of sound will be on display in Newtown later this month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The world renowned Bloodhound SSC, a unique and high-technology project to design and build a car that will break the 1,000mph barrier and set a new world land speed record, will be on display at Newtown’s Hafren on Thursday 22 September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visitors will have a chance to hear about some of the stunning technical details involved in the project from the Bloodhound SSC team and view the 14 metre education car at drop-in sessions from 4.30-7.30pm that day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event has been arranged by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group as part of its Futureproofing Engineering Project. The projected is supported by Powys County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Avril York, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The engineering sector in Powys employs over 5,000 people. To help futureproof this vital sector we need to ensure a pipeline of young people that are able to support it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By showcasing projects like the Bloodhound, we can help to stimulate interest in the engineering sector.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Bloodhound Project centres on Bloodhound SSC, a supersonic car that is designed not only to go faster than the speed of sound (supersonic) but to over 1,000mph (1,600km/h). It will cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds. Designed and constructed in the UK, it includes components and sponsorship from international companies and will make its record attempt in South Africa in October 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The vehicle will be in Newtown for three days from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 September and a number of events have been arranged with local primary, high schools and NPTC College where pupils will use an interactive, guided tour of the car and its components. They will be able to observe and understand the design challenges and science that goes into designing and building a 1,000mph car. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition they will have an opportunity to explore key components such as the hybrid rocket, wheel, steering wheel and a 3D printed display. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The interactive activities incorporate hands-on engagement to demonstrate shockwaves, friction, reaction times and combustion. There is an opportunity for some pupils to experience the driving simulator. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kirsty Allpress of the Bloodhound Education Programme, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the Bloodhound programme to Powys and our thanks to Mid Wales Manufacturing Group and Powys County Council for making it happen. I am sure the different activities that we have on offer will prove to be a real inspiration to the young people taking part and provide your next generation of engineers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The design is a mix of car and aircraft technology, with the front section being a carbon fibre monocoque and the back portion being a metallic framework and panels. The car will be powered by both a jet engine and a rocket, which together will produce more than 135,000 horsepower – that’s more than six times the power of all the Formula 1 cars on a starting grid put together. Over 110 man years of effort have been invested in the design, build and manufacture of the Bloodhound SSC. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​