Board logo

www.landspeed.com
Fred W B - 11/5/06 at 08:17 AM

http://www.landspeed.com/

Check these guys out. According to a programme I saw on discovery, they are a bunch of hotrodders who are trying to break Thrust 2's World LSR. The owner/driver has been working on the project for over 10 years. The vehicle is an ex surplus 60's fighter plane with the wings cut off and wheels fitted. The engine they are using is almost 50 years old and makes about 39,000 hp. In the documentary they showed a 500 km/hour test run

Cheers

Fred W B






[Edited on 11/5/06 by Fred W B]


ned - 11/5/06 at 08:56 AM

Thrust - Stock Engine for low speed testing: 42,500 hp
- Specially Enhanced Engine for record runs: 52,000 hp

Fuel Consumption - Stock engine

Idle = 40 gallons / minute
100 % = 80 gallons / minute
Full AB = 160 gallons / minute

i'm sure converted planes have been tried in the past and have never been hugely successful as they're always a compromise as they're originally deigned to be in the sky, not on land!

Ned.


iank - 11/5/06 at 09:19 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ned
...
i'm sure converted planes have been tried in the past and have never been hugely successful as they're always a compromise as they're originally deigned to be in the sky, not on land!

Ned.


Sounds about right. Getting the power isn't really a problem (assuming the budget is available) getting the aerodynamics right so it stays stable and on the ground is the difficult bit.

You have to admire the dedication though.


trikerneil - 11/5/06 at 11:50 AM

That's one hell of a Trike!


Browser - 11/5/06 at 12:27 PM

They're using a Lockheed F104 Starfighter fuselage.
The nickname of the Starfighter amongst those who used it was 'The Widowmaker', due to their prospensity for falling out of the sky.
I do hope this doesn't happen to these guys


cossey - 11/5/06 at 04:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by trikerneil
That's one hell of a Trike!


its got 4 wheels the front track is very narrow though. it has to have 4 wheels to be eligible for the record.


greggors84 - 11/5/06 at 04:57 PM

Not much chance of it falling out the sky though is there really! Unless it takes off!

Its cheating abit really isnt it, taking the wings off a plane and putting some wheels on it.