The Bloodhound SSC lives! First test of jet engine complete

The pictures say it all really. Bloodhound SSC, the car ultimately aiming to take the Land Speed Record beyond 1,000mph, has undergone its first live test.

Earlier today Bloodhound was anchored down, the team fired up the Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine and with driver Andy Green in the cockpit throttling the jet with his right foot, took it up to max reheat.

Afterwards the team confirmed that “data from the sensors on the car confirmed the jet engine produced the expected thrust during maximum reheat”.

Stuart Edmondson, head of engineering operations said: “Witnessing the EJ200 jet engine at maximum reheat is a fantastic experience. Not only can you see the shock diamonds and hear the deafening noise, you can physically feel the power of the engine as your body shakes.”

So that’s the static testing with the Eurofighter Typhoon engine complete. From here the team starts to begin preparation for dynamic testing, the aim being to do 200mph on Newquay runway on the 26th October. Beyond that the aim, of course, is to go to South Africa, beat their own existing 763mph record at Hakskeen Pan, and then take the record even further. If you care a jot about engineering and adventure, do yourself a favour and follow the project. It’s amazing.

Photography: Stefan Marjoram