ThrustSSC Facts for Kids

The team that built ThrustSSC.

ThrustSSC, also known as Thrust SSC, is a special car that uses a jet engine to move. It was created by a team from the United Kingdom. This team included Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers, and Jeremy Bliss.

Thrust SSC holds the world record for being the fastest vehicle on land. On October 15, 1997, it reached an amazing speed of 1,227 kilometres per hour. This speed is faster than the speed of sound!

What is ThrustSSC?
- How it Works
Breaking the Sound Barrier
- Where the Record Was Set
The Team Behind ThrustSSC
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What is ThrustSSC?

ThrustSSC is not like a regular car you see on the road. It was built specifically to break speed records. Instead of a normal engine, it has two powerful jet engines, similar to those found on airplanes. These engines push the car forward with incredible force.

How it Works

The jet engines on ThrustSSC work by sucking in air at the front. They then compress this air, mix it with fuel, and ignite it. The hot gases shoot out the back at very high speeds. This creates a strong pushing force, called "thrust," which makes the car go extremely fast.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

When ThrustSSC set its record, it became the first car to officially travel faster than the speed of sound. This is often called "breaking the sound barrier." The speed of sound changes depending on conditions, but it's usually around 1,225 kilometres per hour at sea level.

Where the Record Was Set

The record-breaking run happened in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, United States. This desert is very flat and wide, which made it a perfect place for such a high-speed test. The team had to make two runs in opposite directions within one hour for the record to count. The average speed of these two runs became the official world record.

The Team Behind ThrustSSC

The project was led by Richard Noble, who was also a former land speed record holder himself. Ron Ayers was the chief aerodynamicist, meaning he designed the car's shape to cut through the air efficiently. Glynne Bowsher was the project manager, and Jeremy Bliss helped with the overall design. Many other engineers and technicians also worked hard to build this incredible machine.