Watch the Bloodhound reach 334 mph in under 20 seconds
The Bloodhound LSR is in South Africa to prepare for its main record run, which is scheduled to happen in the Hakskeen Pan of the Kalahari desert in 12–18 months. Now, less than two weeks into live testing, the team has already surpassed 334 mph.
Current world land speed record holder Andy Green kept the Eurofighter Typhoon EJ200 jet engine’s afterburner engaged for 12 seconds. At full power, the Bloodhound accelerated from 50–300 mph in just 13 seconds. And though heavy crosswinds slightly delayed this particular run, the team has already completed three separate “run profiles” in just two weeks. The 334-mph run represents the third of these run profiles, which driver Andy Green explains:
“Run profile three marked the true beginning of the high speed test program, as all systems necessary for running with reheat (afterburner) have now been tested and checked. The car’s speed will be built up in 50-mph increments over subsequent run profiles carried out over the next four weeks, with a target top speed above 500 mph for this testing program.”
While the first run profile comprised a static engine test followed by a “very slow” (maximum 100 mph) check of the steering and brakes, the second profile meant reaching 200 mph using “max dry power”—without reheat or extra fuel to measure rolling resistance. In contrast, the successful 334-mph run in the third profile configuration used “full reheat, with stability tests before and after peak speed, then a coast-down period after engine shutdown to measure rolling resistance without idle thrust from the jet engine.” The team has also collected parachute data.
When it comes to those dangerous crosswinds, Andy Green had this to add:
“There was strong cross wind gusting at over 15 mph and we’ve established that this is pretty much the limit for running in the car. We’re happy because this was a successful test—now we’re ready to progress on to higher speeds.”
Until that can happen, check out the dust storm generated as Green blasted to 334 mph in under 20 seconds, following a thin white line through the desert as closely as the winds let him:
