Jet car speeds toward record
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The first attempts to break the land speed record by a British team this year could go ahead today.
The Thrust-SSC team, driving a car powered by two Rolls-Royce jet engines, arrived in the southern al-Jafr desert, 180 miles south-east of the Jordanian capital, Amman, last Thursday. Since then the team has been readying itself for an attempt to break the existing mark of 633.468 miles per hour.
Andrew Noble, one of the Thrust-SSC team organisers, said last week that, while the team may break the record, it will probably fail to hit its target speed of 650 mph. The car, able to generate 110,000 horsepower, is being driven by Andrew Green, a Royal Air Force officer. The Thrust- SSC team includes Richard Noble, who set the existing record in 1983 in Black Rock, Nevada. The Noble brothers own the new car.
Three attempts on the record at the same site last November ended after the desert tracks were submerged by flash floods - the first for five years.
But the team members are optimistic because much of the preparatory work, such as removing stones from the track, was done last year. Over the winter, various problems - including a "shimmy" which turned up at high speeds - have been fixed at the repair base in Farnborough.
However, the al-Jafr track is not long enough to allow the car to reach its top speed, said Andrew Noble last week. A record is determined by averaging the speeds of two runs, in opposite directions, which must be conducted within an hour.
Last October an American driver, Craig Breedlove, narrowly escaped disaster in the Nevada desert, when a crosswind tipped his high-speed car "Spirit of America" on its side during a test run. He escaped unhurt, and plans to try again this year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments