Car Land Speed Record Article

[PhilB]

An article on the Bloodhound attempt and the search for where to do it.  Turns out the Black Rock desert isn't big enough either.  (The Black Rock desert is also famous for being the location of the annual Burning Man festival.)  Anyhow, Andrew Green may be going to Africa to try to hit 1000mph on land.

PhilB

[Speedbag]

Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.

It's a death sentence by rustification.

Oh, I plan on just spectating. 

[ducpainter]

Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.

It's a death sentence by rustification.

Can't be any worse than driving in NH in the winter.

[lethe]

Can't be any worse than driving in NH in the winter.

a crisp winter day might be perfect for land speed attempts on the Kanc 

[derby]

Don't take a car that you care about out on the salt.

It's a death sentence by rustification.

how many did you kill? 

[The Mad King Pepe']

Since the last speed attempt successfully exceeded Mach 1.0 it would seem they've already achieved stability at transonic speeds.

They've achieved it for one vehicle of a certain shape, mass, internal structure, etc... It's not a one size fits all problem.

the condition when some, but not all, of the airflow around the vehicle is supersonic.

"Severe instability can occur at transonic speeds. Shock waves move through the air at the speed of sound. When an object such as an aircraft also moves at the speed of sound, these shock waves build up in front of it to form a single, very large shock wave. During transonic flight, the plane must pass through this large shock wave, as well as contending with the instability caused by air moving faster than sound over parts of the wing and slower in other parts" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transonic_speed

That is part of the problem, shock waves coming off part of the vehicle forcing parts or all of it in one direction or another. If it affects only a part (eg a wing or a wheel) it can break off or explode; if the wave affects the whole vehicle it can become airborne, sink in the ground, or jump left or right (while doing about 800MP/H...).

[Triple J]

They've achieved it for one vehicle of a certain shape, mass, internal structure, etc... It's not a one size fits all problem.

Gotcha...I see what you were saying now. I didn't mean to imply it had been solved for every vehicle...just that it's been done before, so it is understood and can be done again...i.e. it isn't something that can't be engineered around.

That's why I think the only real limiting factor for the world speed record at this point is space. Everything else can be engineered (taking incremental steps of course).

[The Mad King Pepe']

I think it's a matter of resources and the interest in finding a solution: we've had supersonic flight for over 64 years now. So we know it's possible. Getting cars and boats to go supersonic is just a matter of investing in the technology.