Steve Fossett has brought Craig Breedlove's Spirit of America, Sonic Arrow land speed car, which is currently undergoing modification before a land speed attempt.
The Sonic Arrow bares more than a passing resembalance to Donald Campbell's proposed CN8 and the McLaren Maverick, and if looks were the main clue to success, it would have to work. My doubts are Mr Fossett's "pedigree" to pilot such a car, there won't be much of a slow build up here!
But I have doubts as to if Steve is the right man to drive such a machine. Craig struggled, and he was the first past 400, 500 and 600 mph. I am not demeaning his record of sports car racing, nor as a pilot, but.....................
Gone are the days when the likes of Purley and Beuttler could go and buy a March and join in, so is Fossett taking it a bit far by buying an "off the shelf" land speed car" never having been in even the 200 mph club?
Andy Green's flying pedigree is a bit different from Fossetts, and he was very close to his limits (and the cars) in Thrust SSC. Still, a lovely looking car!!!!
Fossett and the Land Speed Record
Started by
f1steveuk
, Dec 05 2006 11:27
7 replies to this topic
#3
jcbc3
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Posted 05 December 2006 - 14:04
And, FWIW, I agree about the qualifications necessary.
#4
Paul Butler
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Posted 05 December 2006 - 15:28
That's why Richard Noble went for Andy Green of course because he recognised that hadn't got the required expertise to drive the car at the speeds it was going to be going at.
Hats off to Steve Fossett for wanting a go at the record but I'm also unsure as to his suitability to pilot this beast at speed.
Hats off to Steve Fossett for wanting a go at the record but I'm also unsure as to his suitability to pilot this beast at speed.
#5
frogeye59
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Posted 05 December 2006 - 19:17
How about this proposed LSR attempt.
Quick way to a quick car, rip the wings off a Starfighter and bolt some wheels on it and off you go..........
Are aircraft not optimised for lift, including the fuselage ???
http://www.landspeed.com/Default.asp
Mind at least there are plenty of spares here if he ding's it ....
http://perljam.net/g...plane_Graveyard
David
Quick way to a quick car, rip the wings off a Starfighter and bolt some wheels on it and off you go..........
Are aircraft not optimised for lift, including the fuselage ???
http://www.landspeed.com/Default.asp
Mind at least there are plenty of spares here if he ding's it ....
http://perljam.net/g...plane_Graveyard
David
#6
f1steveuk
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Posted 05 December 2006 - 19:30
Having seen the American Eagle run (at low speed) there is no way it will get near the record, not without the driver discovering andrenaline is brown.
Unstable, twitchy, (it's on wheels that are WAAAAYYYY too small), and the money that has been poured in, it's not even cheap.
The sad thing is that the aircraft they rescued and ripped the wings off, was one of Chuck Yeagers!!!!
Unstable, twitchy, (it's on wheels that are WAAAAYYYY too small), and the money that has been poured in, it's not even cheap.
The sad thing is that the aircraft they rescued and ripped the wings off, was one of Chuck Yeagers!!!!
#7
frogeye59
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Posted 05 December 2006 - 21:15
Originally posted by f1steveuk
Having seen the American Eagle run (at low speed) there is no way it will get near the record, not without the driver discovering andrenaline is brown.
Unstable, twitchy, (it's on wheels that are WAAAAYYYY too small), and the money that has been poured in, it's not even cheap.
The sad thing is that the aircraft they rescued and ripped the wings off, was one of Chuck Yeagers!!!!
Didnt think it could be up to much when I saw it...
Difficult on on the Yeager connection, yes if it has some significance and provenance it is a real shame, for the money thats gone into it it could have been restored to former glory and displayed.
However Chuck is an inveterate flyer and flew anything and everything he could seamingly get his hands on so there must be loads of Yeager linked aircraft around.
Regards
David
#8
David Pozzi
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Posted 06 December 2006 - 06:05
I was at Black Rock nearly 10 years ago when Thrust SSC and SOA (Spirit Of America) ran.
Breedlove's car is well built for the most part but some system shortcuts were taken like the Afterburner fuel was not pumped, the Afterburner fuel tank was instead pressurized by air, forcing the fuel into the afterburner section. Regular grade Shell automobile engine fuel was pumped for main engine burn, but the pumps wore out due to the use of gasoline as the fuel, it lacked enough lubrication. Shell Ashless engine oil was added to the pump gas to keep the fuel pumps happy.
Steering feel or response was always a concern of Craig's, the team was always fooling with the steering box lash. I suspect the car had little grip on the Black Rock Desert playa due to the smooth tires and the cockpit location which is directly in front of the front wheels so car directional feel is probably non-existent. Thrust SSC had a ridge machined into the wheel center tread which helped it "bite" into the playa.
Spirit Of America has enough HP to weight/drag to make 800mph, the question is, does it have enough stability and directional control. If these can be improved, the car may make it.
Fossett has at least driven 200 mph endurance race cars, (I think he raced at Le Mans) so he may prove up to the job if his team can refine the car.
David
Breedlove's car is well built for the most part but some system shortcuts were taken like the Afterburner fuel was not pumped, the Afterburner fuel tank was instead pressurized by air, forcing the fuel into the afterburner section. Regular grade Shell automobile engine fuel was pumped for main engine burn, but the pumps wore out due to the use of gasoline as the fuel, it lacked enough lubrication. Shell Ashless engine oil was added to the pump gas to keep the fuel pumps happy.
Steering feel or response was always a concern of Craig's, the team was always fooling with the steering box lash. I suspect the car had little grip on the Black Rock Desert playa due to the smooth tires and the cockpit location which is directly in front of the front wheels so car directional feel is probably non-existent. Thrust SSC had a ridge machined into the wheel center tread which helped it "bite" into the playa.
Spirit Of America has enough HP to weight/drag to make 800mph, the question is, does it have enough stability and directional control. If these can be improved, the car may make it.
Fossett has at least driven 200 mph endurance race cars, (I think he raced at Le Mans) so he may prove up to the job if his team can refine the car.
David
