impressive start to Bloodhound

[mpbarrett]

Good end of the testing of Bloodhound, 628MPH and that's without the rocket booster. 
But it will need additional funding for next years runs. More details below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-50426748

Mike

[JohnD]

Shurely shome mishtake? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-50426748  gets "Cambridgeshire minibus crash: 'Seriously injured' among 20 casualties"

Did you mean: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50438614

That it continues to push the boundaries is due to Ian Warhurst, a Yorkshire businessman who has funded the cash-strapped project from his own pocket.     If there was ever a worthwhile endeavour ...

John

[mpbarrett]

Oh dear...sorry about that. 
thanks John that's the correct link the other is a rather sad crash of a minivan...

Yes the funding is a real concern. Its strange how £100's of millions can be found for a government campaign (such as 'your paper work might change if we leave the EU' that was on all the motorway signs) yet we cant fund an engineering project  like Bloodhound.

Mike

 

 

[andymcp]

12 hours ago, JohnD said:

If there was ever a worthwhile endeavour ...

I'm not sure about that.  I watched the news coverage and found myself asking 'what's the point?'  Jingoistic flag waving for British engineering?  Breaking a record already held?

Big gas turbine engine and a rocket booster isn't exactly cutting edge technology.  What about the 'carbon footprint' of this whole affair?  Surely difficult to justify in the current environmental climate (pun intended).  I'm sure these obviously talented and dedicated engineers could direct their attention on developing more beneficial technologies.

This is my personal opinion and I respect all other points of view.

P.S. I also don't understand why people are still climbing Everest.  It's been done.  Get over it and find something new...

[JohnD]

Everest?  "Because it's there"!      If you want to understand, I recommend "Into the Silence" by Wade Davis.

That famous pic of people queuing for the summit would put me right off. even if I was capable and could afford it - £35,000 approx.   There are so many other mountains, both geological and allegorical to climb.       But there is only one 1000mph on land! 

And the Bloodhound Project from its start has pursued the 'spin-off' benefits, especially by inspiring and educating young people: https://www.bloodhoundlsr.com/education/.   As to spin-offs to industry and society,  Ron Ayers, their chief aerodynamicist, provides some answers here: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/your-questions-answered-bloodhound-ssc/

John

[andymcp]

Thanks for posting the links John.

An interesting read, which I've bookmarked for future reference.  None of it, however, changes my original opinion.  I'm still not convinced of the cost benefit in 'education' terms.  There are many real world projects that could be used to spark the immagination of future engineers without chasing an arbitary speed on land.  Tell teenagers that there won't be enough power to charge their iphones in 5 years unless we develop and refine renewable energy sources and watch them work!  Actually, they probably wouldn't work.  They'd protest and moan that we've ruined their futures...