Atlas Copco powers BLOODHOUND SSC project towards finishing line

The current holder of the world land speed record, wing commander Andy Green, will blast down the 1.7 mile runway witnessed by sponsors and the ticket holding public. “The runway trials at Newquay Airport will be the biggest milestone in the history of the project so far,” says Richard Noble, Bloodhound’s project director. “They will provide important data on the performance of the car, and give us a first opportunity to rehearse the procedures we’ll use when we attempt to break the world land speed record.”

A GA15VSD+ FF full feature rotary screw compressor, together with filtration and a 5000-litre air receiver, was supplied to the Avonmouth facility by Atlas Copco Compressors with the principal role of ‘dry’ actuating the car’s EJ200 turbofan jet engine. In the live test runs, this duty will be undertaken by an on-site air start cart at Newquay; where the workshops also feature a GX5 fixed-speed compressor plus a 250-litre air receiver installed for general engineering duties. During the demanding development and assembly operations of the project, both workshops have been supported with a range of advanced electric, battery and air powered tools, plus associated hosing and couplings, donated by sponsor Atlas Copco Tools. This equipment is being used primarily for vehicle build and test operations where fastening torque settings are critical. The calibrated high accuracy and quality assurance of the company’s battery powered ST wrenches in particular have been employed on the fastening of the vehicle’s wheel hubs and other significant components. In addition, air- powered LBB drills have been used extensively to provide rivet holes for the fuselage and stabilising fin assembly.