North American Eagle
Encyclopedia
The North American Eagle Project is a jet-powered automobile that is intended to challenge the 763 mph (Mach 1.02) land speed record
set by the ThrustSSC
in 1997. It is a cooperation of Canadian and American engineer
s, pilots and mechanic
s. Their goal is 1300 kilometre per hour, or Mach
1.058. http://www.landspeed.com/files/acceleration_estimates2.pdf
Weight - 13,000 lb (5,900 kg)
Chassis - F-104A-10 Starfighter
with North American Eagle design suspension and systems integration.
Thrust:
Fuel Consumption - Stock engine
s, formerly used as dive brakes on the F-104. (2) High speed parachutes deployed at 700 mph (3) Low speed parachutes deployed at < 350 mph (4) Anti skid neodymium magnet
or NIB magnet, neodymium iron boron — Nd2Fe14B rare-earth magnet
, Lockheed Skunkworks. It was assigned to Edwards AFFTC (Air Force Flight Test Center
) from August 29, 1957 until 1970 when it was retired. Initially the aircraft was used as a GE test platform for the J79 engine. It was later used as a chase aircraft
for the X-15
, SR-71(A)
Blackbird and XB-70A Valkyrie test programs. It was flown by Joe Walker, Scott Crossfield
, Pete Knight
, Bill Dana
, Chuck Yeager
, Joe Engle and Bob Gilliland among other notable pilots.
. These were performed on a test stand
at S&S Turbine Services, Ft. St. John, BC, Canada. In December 2004, the first engine runs in the vehicle were performed. A total of 23 test runs have been completed between March 2006 and June 2008. Speeds as high as 400 mph have been claimed, but not verified. Testing has been conducted at Toledo Airport in Washington State, Edwards AFB
, CA. El Mirage Dry Lake, CA. and Black Rock Desert
, NV.
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
set by the ThrustSSC
ThrustSSC
ThrustSSC, also spelt Thrust SSC by secondary sources, is a British jet-propelled car developed by Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers and Jeremy Bliss....
in 1997. It is a cooperation of Canadian and American engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s, pilots and mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
s. Their goal is 1300 kilometre per hour, or Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
1.058. http://www.landspeed.com/files/acceleration_estimates2.pdf
The vehicle
Length - 56 feet (17.07 m)Weight - 13,000 lb (5,900 kg)
Chassis - F-104A-10 Starfighter
F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
with North American Eagle design suspension and systems integration.
Powerplant
Engine - General Electric LM - 1500 Turbojet (a variation of the GE J79) supplied by S&S Turbine Services, Ltd., Ft. St. John, BC.Thrust:
- Stock Engine for low speed testing: 42,500 hp (31.7 MW)
- Specially Enhanced Engine for record: 52,000 hp (52,700 metric horsepower)
Fuel Consumption - Stock engine
- Idle: 40 US gal (151 l; 33 imp gal) per minute
- 100% military: 80 US gal (303 l; 67 imp gal) per minute
- Full AB: 90 US gal (341 l; 75 imp gal) per minute
Braking Systems
Four methods are used to decelerate the vehicle. (1) High speed air brakeAir brake (aircraft)
In aeronautics, air brakes or speedbrakes are a type of flight control surface used on an aircraft to increase drag or increase the angle of approach during landing....
s, formerly used as dive brakes on the F-104. (2) High speed parachutes deployed at 700 mph (3) Low speed parachutes deployed at < 350 mph (4) Anti skid neodymium magnet
Neodymium magnet
A neodymium magnet , the most widely-used type of rare-earth magnet, is a permanent magnet made from an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron to form the Nd2Fe14B tetragonal crystalline structure. Developed in 1982 by General Motors and Sumitomo Special Metals, neodymium magnets are the strongest...
or NIB magnet, neodymium iron boron — Nd2Fe14B rare-earth magnet
Rare-earth magnet
Rare-earth magnets are strong permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements. Developed in the 1970s and 80s, rare-earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets made and have significant performance advantages over ferrite or alnico magnets...
Aviation History
Lockheed F-104A-10 Starfighter, tail number 56-0763, serial # 1051 was manufactured in the Lockheed Burbank factory. The aircraft was designed by Kelly JohnsonClarence Johnson
Clarence Leonard "Kelly" Johnson was an aircraft engineer and aeronautical innovator. As a member and first team leader of the Lockheed Skunk Works, Johnson worked for more than four decades and is said to have been an "organizing genius"...
, Lockheed Skunkworks. It was assigned to Edwards AFFTC (Air Force Flight Test Center
Air Force Flight Test Center
The Air Force Flight Test Center conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in the U.S. Air Force's inventory since World War II...
) from August 29, 1957 until 1970 when it was retired. Initially the aircraft was used as a GE test platform for the J79 engine. It was later used as a chase aircraft
Chase plane
A chase plane is an aircraft that "chases" another aircraft, a spacecraft or a rocket during flight. Safety can be one function of a chase plane; others are to photo or video the target vehicle, or to collect engineering data from it...
for the X-15
North American X-15
The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF/USAF, NACA/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and...
, SR-71(A)
SR-71 Blackbird
The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the...
Blackbird and XB-70A Valkyrie test programs. It was flown by Joe Walker, Scott Crossfield
Albert Scott Crossfield
Albert Scott Crossfield was an American naval officer and test pilot.-Biography:Born in Berkeley, California, Crossfield grew up in California and Washington. He served with the U.S. Navy as a flight instructor and fighter pilot during World War II...
, Pete Knight
William J. Knight
William J. "Pete" Knight was a U.S. politician, combat pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. Knight holds the world's speed record for flight in a winged, powered aircraft...
, Bill Dana
William H. Dana
-Career:Dana was born in Pasadena, California, November 3, 1930, received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1952 and served four years as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force...
, Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager
Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...
, Joe Engle and Bob Gilliland among other notable pilots.
Test Runs
Fourteen engine test runs were first conducted in June of 2004, with the last two in full afterburnerAfterBurner
The AfterBurner is a lighting solution for the Game Boy Advance system that was created by Triton-Labs.Originally, portablemonopoly.net was a website created to petition Nintendo to put some kind of light in their Game Boy Advance system...
. These were performed on a test stand
Engine test stand
An engine test stand is a facility used to develop, characterize and test engines. The facility, often offered as a product to automotive OEMs, allows engine operation in different operating regimes and offers measurement of several physical variables associated with the engine operation.A...
at S&S Turbine Services, Ft. St. John, BC, Canada. In December 2004, the first engine runs in the vehicle were performed. A total of 23 test runs have been completed between March 2006 and June 2008. Speeds as high as 400 mph have been claimed, but not verified. Testing has been conducted at Toledo Airport in Washington State, Edwards AFB
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, CA. El Mirage Dry Lake, CA. and Black Rock Desert
Black Rock Desert
The Black Rock Desert is an arid region in the northern Nevada section of the Great Basin with a lakebed that is a dry remnant of Pleistocene Lake Lahontan...
, NV.
External links
- North American Eagle Project
- "North American Eagle Project eyes speed record", Earth & SkyEarth & SkyEarth & Sky is a daily radio series presenting information about science and nature. It began broadcasting in 1991. Earth & Sky is the creation of producers Deborah Byrd and Joel Block, also the hosts, whose program "Star Date" began broadcasting in the U.S...
(2006-12-01). - The Bullet Project Official site
- North American Eagle Black Rock Desert Photography