Aero-engine giant Rolls-Royce is to support the Bloodhound Project, which will attempt to beat the 1,000mph world land speed record, in a tie-up that puts Bristol firmly at the heart of engineering innovation.
The Bloodhound car will be powered by a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine – made at its Patchway, Bristol plant – while Rolls-Royce will also provide financial and technical support to the project.
The engine, developed for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, will propel the car to more than 1,000 mph (1,600 kmh or Mach 1.4), when it attempts to shatter the record in South Africa in 2015.
But the Bloodhound Project is more than a record challenge. Its global education programme aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians with 56 trained Rolls-Royce Bloodhound ambassadors taking part, assisting teachers across the UK to deliver exciting Bloodhound-themed lessons.
The ambassadors will play a key role in helping young people to make positive career choices, by giving real life context to their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Announcing the partnership its Bristol site, Rolls-Royce director of engineering and technology Colin Smith CBE said: “Cutting-edge engineering keeps Rolls-Royce, and the UK, at the forefront of global business. We understand the fundamental importance of inspiring young people about STEM and know that more needs to be done. Sponsoring Bloodhound gives us an opportunity to showcase world-class British engineering and invest in our future.”
Bloodhound Project director Richard Noble OBE said: “Rolls-Royce’s support of the programme is invaluable and their highly-motivated ambassadors will help us reach many more schools and youth groups across the country. Their experience of working within a first-class aerospace company makes them perfect role models for aspiring engineers".
The iconic Rolls-Royce logo will be displayed on the engine cowlings of Bloodhound’s Rolls-Royce built EJ200 jet engine; which, in its normal role, generates 20,000lb 90 kN thrust to power the twin-engined Eurofighter.
Some 5,442 UK primary and secondary schools have signed up to join the Bloodhound Education Programme – roughly 2.5m pupils.
