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Thrust SSC Breaks the Sound Barrier

14 October 1997

Richard Noble's Thrust SSC team broke the sound barrier two times in the Black Rock desert yesterday, but narrowly missed breaking the 714 mph land speed record that they themselves set on the 25th of last month.

Richard Noble's driver, former RAF jet pilot Andy Green, made three runs in the Thrust SSC on Monday. The first hit 749.647 mph, but fell short of the team's declared goal of breaking the sound barrier, which is estimated at 750-765 mph, depending on weather conditions at the 5,000-foot altitude level of the Black Rock course.

Green's second and third run were better--both broke the sound barrier--but narrowly missed landing his team a new entry in the recrd books. In order to set a new record, a car must complete two runs within an hour and maintain an average speed (accross both runs) that breaks the existing record by 3%.

With sights fixed on popping the sound barrier, Green set out and hit 764.168 mph, approximately 1.007 times the speed of sound. On this run a drag parachute didn't deploy, and the Thrust SSC overshot the end of the 13-mile course by a mile and a half. Because it took 61 minutes to turn the car around and get it back on course, Green's next run--at 760.135 mph, approximately 1.003 times Mach 1--did not count for the record books.

Thrust SSC team leader Richard Noble said his car would be back in the desert early Tuesday. He says his final goal is Mach 1 plus 10 percent. Noble set the land speed record at Black Rock Desert on Oct. 4, 1983 (633.47 mph) and held it until the Thrust SSC made its 714 mph run last month.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel