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RICHARD NOBLE
AUTOMOTIVE A TO Z CLIMATE CHANGE EVENTS FUEL CELLS HYDROGEN SITE INDEX UTILITIES
Richard Noble was born 6th March 1946. Against a background of today’s low risk culture, Richard specialises in developing high risk ventures, not all of which were successful, but spectacularly, the Thrust 2 programme which brought the World Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 and the Thrust SSC first ever supersonic land speed record programme are the best known.
Other projects include the ARV Super2 light aircraft, the Atlantic Sprinter Blue Riband contender, Programme Funding, an original television funding company, and the last, Farnborough Aircraft, which is creating the first point to point taxi aircraft.
Richard Noble - an inspiration
CV
Richard Noble has been a regular speaker at corporate conferences and events all over the World with 550 appearances in the last 25 years. Because of the wide range of activities involved in the projects and the extraordinary approaches needed to overcome the sceptics and cynics, Richard is able to speak on a very wide range of business related topics. Key to the presentations are the essential will to win through to success and the extraordinary levels of risk, stress pressure and struggle of the latest counter culture programmes.
ENGINEERING
Thrust SSC is the result of 2½ years of research into the shape of a supersonic vehicle, followed by another 2 years and some 100,000 man-hours of build. Not only is the research and design fascinating of itself, but the story of that research makes compelling reading. Please check our Engineering page for more information. We would add that funding the project was no less fascinating, and part of the project that, without Richard's incredible talent for enthusing others and obtaining backing, this project could never have succeeded. That is not to belittle the original concept - which was also Richard's.
EQUIPMENT
The equipment used to support Thrust SSC is no less fascinating. Never before in an attempt on the World Land Speed Record has so much specialised technology been gathered together, not just to make it possible and safe. From a 155mph firechase, to a 6-ton capacity fork-lift capable of use over the roughest terrain; from car-to-pits telemetry to satellite communications; this is the story of that equipment. Please check their Equipment section for more information.
Thrust SSC - Coventry Motor Museum
COMMUNICATION
Much of the communication within the team, who are spread geographically over most of the UK, is done by email. Its ability to pass information quickly and cheaply, as well as transfer files between team members (for example, design drawings of Thrust SSC itself) has been incredibly useful to them.
It is a privilege of Mach 1 Club membership to be able to write in directly to the team members. Email Ids for team members are published in the Question Time section of the Club Members-only pages.
CONTACTS
Richard NobleSouthfieldsGreywellHookHants RG29 1BZUnited Kingdom
Price £20.00 plus £5 postage and packing Please fax your order to +44-1256-704340
Book Description: The story of the fastest car ever built, and of the man who built it.
Ever since Dr Johnson declared 200 years ago that no man traveling at 20mph in a coach could possibly "continue to draw breath", there has been no shortage of nay-sayers. They said it over and over to Richard Noble and his team, but they went ahead anyway and in October 1997 Thrust SSC, driven by RAF Squadron leader Andy Green, smashed through the sound barrier to set the first supersonic land speed record of 763mph.
This absorbing and richly illustrated book tells of Noble's obsessive quest for speed, beginning as a six-year-old watching John Cobb's 200mph jet boat Crusader and ending in triumph in the Nevada desert. There is as much financial as technical detail--Noble imaginatively and profitably stalked the Internet for donations as corporate sponsors fell by the wayside - and a jingoistic subplot as the Brits and Yanks vied with each other to achieve the sonic boom first.
But
mostly this is a human story of struggle, achievement and the peculiar
meanings of success. "We'd got through this", says Noble,
"we'd succeeded. But success can be very sad once you've got over
the initial elation. Suddenly it's all over and it can never be savoured
again."
LINK SITES
Contacting ThrustSSC Site Contents The Media The Story The Technology Thrust and iT Site Updates Shop Mach 1 Club
Honorary degrees for Thrust SSC Design Team
On 15 October 1997 in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, the Thrust SSC Design Team fired the public imagination both in this country and abroad with their dramatic success in setting a new supersonic land speed record of 763.035 mph. This major feat of UK engineering involved four years of research and testing, and drew on the skills of a dedicated and experienced team. The discovery of Black Rock Desert saved the attempt from near disaster after runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats proved disappointing.
To emphasize the collaboration and teamwork involved, the University of Southampton has honoured the whole of the Thrust SSC project by awarding honorary degrees to the design team. Honorary degrees of Doctor of Science were awarded to Ron Ayres, Chief Aerodynamicist; Glynne Bowsher, Chief Mechanical Designer; Andy Green, Driver; Jerry Bliss, Systems Designer; Mike Horne, Composites; Chris Cowell, Engines; and in absentia Nick Dove, Workshop Manager.
They received their honorary degrees on Thursday 9 July at the University’s Highfield Campus.
For further information: Sarah Watts, Public Affairs, University of Southampton (01703) 593807
Major Speed Records
LINK SITES
Ron Ayres - Aerodynamicist
Honorary degrees for Thrust SSC Design Team
On 15 October 1997 in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, the Thrust SSC Design Team fired the public imagination both in this country and abroad with their dramatic success in setting a new supersonic land speed record of 763.035 mph. This major feat of UK engineering involved four years of research and testing, and drew on the skills of a dedicated and experienced team.
To emphasize the collaboration and teamwork involved, the University of Southampton has honoured the whole of the ThrustSSC project by awarding honorary degrees to the design team. Honorary degrees of Doctor of Science were awarded to Ron Ayres, Chief Aerodynamicist; Glynne Bowsher, Chief Mechanical Designer; Andy Green, Driver; Jerry Bliss, Systems Designer; Mike Horne, Composites; Chris Cowell, Engines; and in absentia Nick Dove, Workshop Manager.
Richard Noble - after taking world record in Thrust 2
They received their honorary degrees on Thursday 9 July at the University’s Highfield Campus.
For further information: Sarah Watts, Public Affairs, University of Southampton (01703) 593807
Contacting ThrustSSC Site Contents The Media The Story The Technology Thrust and iT Site Updates Shop Mach 1 Club The first ever (and only) supersonic World Land Speed Record of 763.035mph was set on 15th October 1997 by Andy Green in ThrustSSC, on the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. The speed of sound was exceeded on land by Andy Green and ThrustSSC for the first time in history on 13th October 1997.
Thrust SSC at speed on Jafr Desert, Jordan
The ThrustSSC team returned to the UK having achieved their objective. At about the same time the Spirit of America team left the Black Rock Desert with the weather closing in.
ThrustSSC has reached a highest speed through the measured mile to date of 766mph with runs completed.
Spirit of America has reached 636mph with runs planned to continue in the future.
Spirit of America reached a peak speed of 675mph on the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, before crashing during October 1996's record attempt.
Thrust SSC was the most powerful, most extraordinary car ever to be designed to attack the Land Speed Record, and as the SSC (Super Sonic Car) in the name indicates, it is also one of the first with genuine potential to breach the Sound Barrier.
Then along came the Bloodhound.
Thrust SSC team members
Where Thrust 2 used a 17,000 pound thrust Rolls-Royce Avon 302 engine from a Lightning fighter, Thrust SSC is the first car to use two turbojets. These were initially Rolls-Royce Spey 202s from the Phantom fighter, each producing 20,000 pounds of thrust. Richard Noble has acquired two of them, but also has two even more powerful 205 units (25,000lb of thrust) for use when ThrustSSC has proved itself in transonic testing. Thrust SSC thus has the power of 1000 Ford Escorts, or 145 Formula One cars...
It weighs 10 tonnes, and performance estimates confirm it will accelerate from standstill to 100mph (161kph) in four seconds or 0-600mph (1000kph) in 16 seconds. Within five miles (8 km) it will then reach its maximum speed of 850 mph within half a minute.
Richard Noble Autobiography Paperback Overall
Design Engines
Rear-Wheel
Steering Cockpit
Parachute
Braking System
Cutaway drawing of Thrust SSC
Contacting ThrustSSC Site Contents The Media The Story The Technology Thrust and iT Site Updates Shop Mach 1 Club
LINKS
A - Z OF WORLD FAMOUS RACING CIRCUITS
Andy Green
LINKS & REFERENCE
https://
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