Supersonic Bloodhound car project axed

Mr Clingford · 7th December 2018, 04:11 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46480342

Bit of a shame; I was looking forward to some ultra high speed crazy car action.

Surely an eccentric billionaire could cough up a measly £25 million?

CORed · 7th December 2018, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Clingford

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46480342

Bit of a shame; I was looking forward to some ultra high speed crazy car action.

Surely an eccentric billionaire could cough up a measly £25 million?

No doubt the fuel mileage sucked anyway, and what good is the ability to break the sound barrier when you're stuck in traffic all the time?

3point14 · 7th December 2018, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by CORed

No doubt the fuel mileage sucked anyway, and what good is the ability to break the sound barrier when you're stuck in traffic all the time?

Indeed. And rear wheel steering is only for fork lifts.

Mr Clingford · 8th December 2018, 02:50 AM

I suppose the more important metric is not its speed in a straight line but what time it can lap the Nurburgring in. So it was a fail anyway.

shemp · 8th December 2018, 05:24 PM

Doesn't seem very convenient for taking the kids to school.

BStrong · 8th December 2018, 05:52 PM

Serious question that in looking into this I didn't find an answer.

Where can tires rated for the intended top speed be sourced?

I don't know anybody involved in top LSR pursuits, but do know a couple of guys that have run at Bonneville and according to them the limiting factor for current LSR efforts is the lack of availability of tires rated for speeds above 250 mph.

casebro · 8th December 2018, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by BStrong

Serious question that in looking into this I didn't find an answer.

Where can tires rated for the intended top speed be sourced?

I don't know anybody involved in top LSR pursuits, but do know a couple of guys that have run at Bonneville and according to them the limiting factor for current LSR efforts is the lack of availability of tires rated for speeds above 250 mph.

Airplane tires. Heavy because 28 plies. Maybe truck tires are a happy medium?

But does it have to have rubber tires? Carbide coated rims might do.

Mr Clingford · 9th December 2018, 10:42 AM

I think the tires were to be solid alumin(i)um.

Trebuchet · 9th December 2018, 11:22 AM

This reminds me of some guys a few years ago, I think in my area, who were trying to build a car out of a scrapped F16. (At least I think it was an F16.) Wonder what happened to that project?

ETA: I'm wrong, it was an F-104.

Quote:

For the last 13 years, development and testing of the vehicle has been ongoing with no notable progress to date.

Jack by the hedge · 9th December 2018, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Clingford

I think the tires were to be solid alumin(i)um.

Yeah, solid aluminium.

Sorry to hear it's folded but they've been running on a shoestring for years. The project started just as the financial crisis broke and even Richard Noble's remarkable blagging powers couldn't get the funding needed to get it to the starting line. If I remember correctly, the original plan was to run the car in 2011. It'll be a great pity if all that work comes to nothing.

Ziggurat · 12th December 2018, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mr Clingford

I think the tires were to be solid alumin(i)um.

Correct. And not just stock aluminum either, they've got to be custom forged. It's a pretty big deal:

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I AGREE

Mr Clingford · 13th December 2018, 07:26 AM

To withstand 50,000 g at the rim!

Mr Clingford · 17th December 2018, 05:13 AM

Hooray.

Bloodhound supersonic car project saved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46591860

The Ministry of Defence and Rolls Royce had both backed the buyout.

7th December 2018, 04:11 AM	#1
Mr Clingford Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,970	Supersonic Bloodhound car project axed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46480342 Bit of a shame; I was looking forward to some ultra high speed crazy car action. Surely an eccentric billionaire could cough up a measly £25 million?
	__________________ God is my copilot. But we crashed into a mountain and I had to eat him.

7th December 2018, 10:46 AM	#3
3point14 Pi Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 16,855	Originally Posted by CORed No doubt the fuel mileage sucked anyway, and what good is the ability to break the sound barrier when you're stuck in traffic all the time? Indeed. And rear wheel steering is only for fork lifts.
3point14 Pi Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 16,855	__________________ Up the River!

8th December 2018, 02:50 AM	#4
Mr Clingford Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,970	I suppose the more important metric is not its speed in a straight line but what time it can lap the Nurburgring in. So it was a fail anyway.
	__________________ God is my copilot. But we crashed into a mountain and I had to eat him.

8th December 2018, 05:24 PM	#5
shemp a flimsy character...perfidious and despised Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: People's Democratic Republic of Planet X Posts: 29,435	Doesn't seem very convenient for taking the kids to school.
	__________________ "Shemp, you are the one fixed point in an ever-changing universe." - Beady "I don't want to live in a world without shemp." - Quarky "...just as a magnet attracts iron filings, Trump attracts, and is attracted to, louts." - George Will

8th December 2018, 05:52 PM	#6
BStrong Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Posts: 11,760	Serious question that in looking into this I didn't find an answer. Where can tires rated for the intended top speed be sourced? I don't know anybody involved in top LSR pursuits, but do know a couple of guys that have run at Bonneville and according to them the limiting factor for current LSR efforts is the lack of availability of tires rated for speeds above 250 mph.
	__________________ "When a man who is honestly mistaken, hears the truth, he will either cease being mistaken or cease being honest." - Anonymous "Dulce bellum inexpertīs." - Erasmus

7th December 2018, 10:42 AM	#2
CORed Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central City, Colorado, USA Posts: 8,487	Originally Posted by Mr Clingford https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46480342 Bit of a shame; I was looking forward to some ultra high speed crazy car action. Surely an eccentric billionaire could cough up a measly £25 million? No doubt the fuel mileage sucked anyway, and what good is the ability to break the sound barrier when you're stuck in traffic all the time?

8th December 2018, 06:54 PM	#7
casebro Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 16,267	Originally Posted by BStrong Serious question that in looking into this I didn't find an answer. Where can tires rated for the intended top speed be sourced? I don't know anybody involved in top LSR pursuits, but do know a couple of guys that have run at Bonneville and according to them the limiting factor for current LSR efforts is the lack of availability of tires rated for speeds above 250 mph. Airplane tires. Heavy because 28 plies. Maybe truck tires are a happy medium? But does it have to have rubber tires? Carbide coated rims might do.
	__________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Medium minds discuss events. Small minds spend all their time on U-Tube and Facebook.

9th December 2018, 10:42 AM	#8
Mr Clingford Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,970	I think the tires were to be solid alumin(i)um.
	__________________ God is my copilot. But we crashed into a mountain and I had to eat him.

9th December 2018, 11:22 AM	#9
Trebuchet Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Great Northwet Posts: 20,039	This reminds me of some guys a few years ago, I think in my area, who were trying to build a car out of a scrapped F16. (At least I think it was an F16.) Wonder what happened to that project? ETA: I'm wrong, it was an F-104. Quote: For the last 13 years, development and testing of the vehicle has been ongoing with no notable progress to date.
	__________________ Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant. Last edited by Trebuchet; 9th December 2018 at 11:26 AM.

9th December 2018, 01:50 PM	#10
Jack by the hedge Safely Ignored Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,256	Originally Posted by Mr Clingford I think the tires were to be solid alumin(i)um. Yeah, solid aluminium. Sorry to hear it's folded but they've been running on a shoestring for years. The project started just as the financial crisis broke and even Richard Noble's remarkable blagging powers couldn't get the funding needed to get it to the starting line. If I remember correctly, the original plan was to run the car in 2011. It'll be a great pity if all that work comes to nothing.

13th December 2018, 07:26 AM	#12
Mr Clingford Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,970	To withstand 50,000 g at the rim!
	__________________ God is my copilot. But we crashed into a mountain and I had to eat him.

17th December 2018, 05:13 AM	#13
Mr Clingford Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,970	Hooray. Bloodhound supersonic car project saved. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-46591860 The Ministry of Defence and Rolls Royce had both backed the buyout.
	__________________ God is my copilot. But we crashed into a mountain and I had to eat him.