THE MAN behind the wheel when the Thrust SSC became the first land vehicle to break the sound barrier and set a new world land speed record joined car and engineering enthusiasts at Coventry Transport Museum to celebrate the feat’s 25th anniversary.
Wing Commander Andy Green OBE hosted a presentation and question and answer session with visitors, where he discussed the Thrust SSC’s technological accomplishments and the biggest challenges in achieving the world record, which still stands today.
The former Royal Air Force fighter pilot achieved a speed of 763mph in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada on October 15, 1997.
During the presentation, Green highlighted the role Coventry’s manufacturing industry played in the project’s success, with Thrust SSC’s brakes and wheels made in the city.
Green was joined at the event by Jeremy Davey, who provided satellite communications support throughout the Thrust SSC project, with other members of the team connecting via a live video link from Nevada.
The car is now on display at the Coventry Transport Museums Land Speed Gallery alongside Thrust2 and Bloodhound LSR.
Green said: “Thrust SSC excited so many people both in this country and around the world.
“This car achieved such a remarkable feat 25 years ago that nobody has come close to since then.
“It’s the longest-standing land speed record in history and that is absolutely brilliant in terms of the achievement that this represents for British engineering.
“Because it’s the only supersonic car in history, people are still talking about it and an awful lot of people have come to the museum to see this car because it broke the record.
“Of the four fastest cars on earth, three of them are in this room. Coventry was responsible for so much of the technology, and Coventry Transport Museum is the obvious place for these cars and the display here is a fabulous way of showing them off.”
Green also spoke about the aim to one day break the land speed record with Bloodhound LSR, which has been in development for the last 14 years.
“Ultimately, we need to move forward to a high technology low carbon energy efficient world of the future.
“We’ve now got the car up to 600+ mph, and we’re now looking to get the car funded to see if we can get toward that magic 1000 mph which Bloodhound is theoretically capable of – to not just showcase British engineering and technology, but ultimately to inspire a generation about the magic of science of technology.”
