Norbar joins land speed record bid

At a time of resurgent interest in UK engineering, Bloodhound acts as an exciting focus for British experience in this area and an inspiration for young people considering a career in this absorbing field. As a Product Sponsor for the Bloodhound SSC project, Norbar is supplying a range of torque wrenches, measurement equipment and their consultancy expertise in ultrasonic bolt testing. Philip Brodey, Norbar's sales and marketing director, emphasised the vital importance of setting accurate torque to fastenings on a vehicle that would be subjected to exceptional stresses induced by speeds well beyond the sound barrier. "This is an ambitious and adventurous project that is a great way to advance and promote technology. There are likely to be useful practical spin-offs as well as an increased public awareness about how engineering can be an enduring passion as well as a rewarding profession." The 7.5 tonne Bloodhound SSC is jet and rocket propelled and capable of accelerating from 0-1,000 mph and back again to zero in just 100 seconds. Its jet and rocket engines generate a thrust of 47,000 lbs, the equivalent of 180 F1 cars. Pressures impacting on the vehicle include 30 tonne suspension loadings and air pressures of up to 10 tonnes per square metre.