Hakskeenpan, South Africa: A loud hiss rips through the stillness of southern Africa's Kalahari Desert.
Image Credit: AFP
2 of 25
It sounds like a fighter jet flying low over the Hakskeen Pan, an isolated dry lake bed in South Africa's Northern Cape province, near the Namibian border.
Image Credit: AFP
3 of 25
Then a thick cloud of sand appears on the horizon, growing steadily as it draws near.
Image Credit: AFP
4 of 25
In the blink of an eye, a racing car shoots by with a deafening screech and pelts towards the opposite end of the salt pan.
Image Credit: AFP
5 of 25
There's still a way to go before the super racer is ready for that attempt, but today driver Andy Green is pleased.
Image Credit: AFP
6 of 25
The "Bloodhound" is gearing up to try to break the current land speed record, which stands at 760 miles per hour (1,223.657 kilometres per hour).
Image Credit: AFP
7 of 25
The British-built Bloodhound stands sleekly behind him, dust still hovering in its wake.
Image Credit: AFP
8 of 25
"We have reached 904 kph (561.72 mph)," he says, beaming as he lifts himself out of the cockpit, helmet in hand.
Image Credit: AFP
9 of 25
"First thing in the morning, plenty of thrust, nice calm wind, so the car ran absolutely straight."
Image Credit: AFP
10 of 25
The white parachute that helps it brake lies crumpled on the cracked ochre soil.
Image Credit: AFP
11 of 25
"Good parachute deployment," adds the Briton, as the vehicle is towed into a large air-conditioned tent nearby.
Image Credit: AFP
12 of 25
"That's pretty much the perfect run," he says.
Image Credit: AFP
13 of 25
The Bloodhound was designed exclusively for speed -- the team hopes, if possible, to get up to 1,000 mph.
Image Credit: AFP
14 of 25
The vehicle resembles a wingless jet on aluminium wheels, with a long white body topped by an engine and a stabiliser.
Image Credit: AFP
15 of 25
A view of the test track on which the British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) team are planning to beat the existing land speed record of 1228km/h with their jet-propelled car
Image Credit: AFP
16 of 25
The engine, built by Rolls Royce, once powered a Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.
Image Credit: AFP
17 of 25
A technician plugs a fuel hose into the jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record)
Image Credit: AFP
18 of 25
In the Kalahari, safety is managed by the Bloodhound team's only female member, Jessica Kinsman.
Image Credit: AFP
19 of 25
A team of local people flatten and prepare the path to the test track on which the British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) team are planning to beat the existing land speed record of 1228km/h with their jet and rocket-propelled car(not visible) at Hakskeenpan in the Northern Cape Province
Image Credit: AFP
20 of 25
Andy Green checks the jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) car before a high-speed run
Image Credit: AFP
21 of 25
The jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) car drives at about 560km/h to test the air-brakes, visible towards the back of the car during preliminary tests
Image Credit: AFP
22 of 25
Andy Green walks on the test-track to do a run of the jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR
Image Credit: AFP
23 of 25
Andy Green, the driver, gets into the jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) car for a high-speed run
Image Credit: AFP
24 of 25
A member of the technical team pours coolant into the jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) car before a run
Image Credit: AFP
25 of 25
The jet-propelled British Bloodhound LSR (Land Speed Record) car drives at about 900km/h during preliminary tests at Hakskeenpan
Image Credit: AFP
This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you.
Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
