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American Society of Mechanical Engineers name ThrustSSC as an historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark
20 March 2014
The legendary ThrustSSC the first car to break the sound barrier, and which lives permanently at Coventry Transport Museum, has been recognised by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for historic significance.
ASME named ThrustSSC a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark at a dedication ceremony held on Saturday 15th March here at Coventry Transport Museum.
The British jet-propelled car has joined a roster of more than 250 engineering achievements from around the world that ASME has cited for their role in advancing the growth and progress of technology.
ThrustSSC made history on October 15th 1997, at the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. There, Andy Green, a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, drove the car over a one-mile measured course, achieving a speed of 763 miles per hour.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce turbofan engines, the 10.5 ton car was created by a team of engineeers and technicians, who applied computational fluid dynamics programmes and wind tunnel testing to design an active suspension system capable of adjusting to the rapid increases in speed. The engineering team "solved novel mechanical, aerodynamic and control problems to design a car that properly managed complex dynamic forces, including those from reflected shock waves," says ASME in a bronze plaque to be presented to Coventry Transport Museum at the ceremony.
ASME president Madiha El Mehelmy Kotb and members of the ASME Committee on History and Heritage were among the officials representing ASME at the event.
About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organiszation that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programmes provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.