How to Keep a 1,000mph Car on the Ground
The Bloodhound SSC project aims to break the land-speed record with a vehicle that can hit an astounding 1,000 miles per hour. Building a car that goes this fast poses numerous engineering challenges. We’ve already learned about how they plan on stopping the car and protecting its driver. Now the Bloodhound SSC team has shared a video which shows how they’ll keep the rocket-powered car planted on the ground, instead of flying into the air.
In the case of the Bloodhound SSC, the use of specially-designed wings will help keep the car stable – rather than lift it into the air. Small, adjustable winglets help keep the car from moving side to side, while a larger airfoil on the back helps keep it from lifting from the ground too much. In fact, the car is designed to have a near neutral amount of lift at any speed.
If you’re interested in understanding how wings work, sure to check out the video below: