Institution news
The sold-out shows attracted 8,000 visitors, who were the first members of the public to get a glimpse of the 135,000 thrust hp land speed racer. A project eight years in the making – involving research, design and manufacturing input from over 350 companies and universities - Bloodhound was presented in record attempt configuration but without the carbon fibre bodywork on one side, in order to showcase the car's inner workings.
Ninety-eight per cent of the car was revealed, including the Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine that will be used when Bloodhound SSC attempts its 800mph run in 2016, as well as the supercharged Jaguar V8 engine used to pump oxidiser into the rocket. The intricate carbon fibre, steel and alloy chassis was also exposed, along with the complex internal skeleton of Bloodhound's huge tail-fin.
At the launch, the public were able to view the completed cockpit and see the first pictures from the car's on-board cameras, while thrill-seeking visitors could enjoy the Castrol EDGE and Jaguar Bloodhound Driving Simulator and Castrol EDGE Virtual Reality Experience.
Team support vehicles, including the custom-built Jaguar Rapid Response Vehicles, the fully kitted F-Type and XJ, were also on show, completing a stunning exhibition of cutting-edge engineering. Members of the Bloodhound team were on hand throughout the Expo to meet the public and to help explain the projects and principles behind the car.
Bloodhound’s grand unveiling garnered much media attention, appearing in articles and video from the Guardian, Sky News, the BBC, the Daily Mail, Reuters and Top Gear, to name but a few.
The Institution’s video team also captured the excitement of the occasion by attending the launch and recording interviews with Bloodhound SSC’s Chief Engineer Mark Chapman, the project’s Army Team Leader Major Oli Morgan CEng MIMechE, Electronics Technician Corporal Hollie Jenkins and Design Engineer Jenna Gaff AMIMechE.
The Institution is one of the key sponsors of Bloodhound SSC, which will travel to South Africa in 2016 in an attempt to break the world land speed record of 763mph. A 1,000mph attempt is also planned for later on in the year.
The Bloodhound project was created by Richard Noble, former land speed record holder, who was encouraged by then Defence Minister, Lord Drayson, to create a new supersonic car which would exceed 1,000mph and inspire future generations to consider careers in science and engineering. The Institution, which has long supported the aim of inspiring future generations into engineering, was one of the early sponsors and supporters of the campaign. Not only does the project aim to get into the record books and create a surge in STEM enthusiasts, it also demonstrates the best of British engineering:
Watch the video now
Philippa Oldham, the Institution’s Head of Transport and Manufacturing, said: “Bloodhound is one of the most exciting and innovative projects happening in UK engineering and the Institution is delighted to be a part of it by being one of the project’s key sponsors.
“The UK is facing an engineering skills shortage and we need projects like Bloodhound SSC to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists about Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.
“The project is also cutting-edge UK engineering, and the open access nature of the project means that the advances made to develop this car could potentially be used in a myriad of different applications and by different industries.
“The whole Institution is looking forward to following the test runs and the 1,000mph record attempt in South Africa next year.”
Institution Visionary, Major Oli Morgan said: “We take the Bloodhound Project into schools and it acts like the ‘secret sauce’ to inspire the next generation towards careers in STEM. It’s really exciting, and it appeals to all; we’ve seen a massive uptake in both girls and boys getting involved in the project. You can’t not be excited by it.”
Mark Chapman added: “Bloodhound’s really unusual. It’s a land speed record project, but our primary goal isn’t to break the land speed record. Our primary goal is to get a whole generation inspired about science.”
Education facts
- 6000 UK primary and secondary schools are signed up to, and using free Bloodhound Education Resources in the classroom
- 150 STEM school events per year reach over 100,000 students
- 800 specially trained Bloodhound ambassadors help the team support teachers across the country
- The Bloodhound education team aim to deliver a Bloodhound lesson to 2.5 million schoolchildren by 2018
- According to research conducted by the team, 65% of students engaged by Bloodhound would now consider an engineering/science vocation
- The top speed attained during the model rocket car challenge, supported by Guinness World Records, has risen from 88mph to 210mph, and now 553mph – a record held by The Joseph Whitaker School Young Engineers
Corporal Hollie Jenkins said: “I’m lucky enough to go with the education team and visit schools. The fact that I get to inspire young kids as well as work on the project itself is just fantastic.
“I think that Bloodhound shows that anything is possible. As the saying goes, todays impossibilities are tomorrow’s possibilities.”
The Bloodhound SSC project is unique as it has a philosophy of open access to all aspects of the research, design, build and test of the car. Because the FIA world land speed record rules are minimal, the challenger cars tend to be very different – so, as the technology is unlikely to be of value to a competitor, there is no need to be secretive. This provides a unique opportunity to share the information with all sectors of education as well as the general public.
Mark Chapman said: “We have all these great technologies in Britain that we don’t get chance to showcase because they’re all covered by non-disclosure and commercial sensitivity. To be able to create most of this car in the UK is fantastic; and the fact that we can share this knowledge and information is also really good.”
Bloodhound SSC’s long-awaited reveal follows July 2015’s highly successful Bloodhound Roadshow. The Roadshow spanned three different events across the country and allowed Institution members, students and the public the opportunity to meet the project team, take a closer look at a model of the car and take part in activities. The roadshow even included an appearance at the Institution’s flagship student motorsport competition, Formula Student 2015.
Watch the Bloodhound SSC worldwide launch video.
Find out how you can get involved with the Bloodhound project.