Copyright The copyright of all photos on this site belong exclusively to Richard Meredith-Hardy. Unless specifically noted, any image may be used on any web site so long as: 1. They are not altered in any way. 2. A link is made to these photo library pages: http://www.flymicro.com/photolib
A note to rmh would also be appreciated.
For any other use, and for those photos specifically noted as only being usable with prior permission, please contact rmh
Image availability
Prints for personal use are available where indicated.
Images are available in digital format for commercial use by arrangement with rmh.
ThrustSSC shockwave photos
Two photos of ThrustSSC are available from the shockwave sequence taken by RMH from a microlight above Black Rock Desert, Nevada on 8th October 1997 as Andy Green passed by at around Mach 1.
This image is available for personal use as an A3 (approx 297mm × 420mm) size print on glossy photographic paper.
Step 1 Please select shipping method
First class post to UK: included in price.
Airmail to rest of World: Add £
Total price: £
Step 2 Personal use agreement I acknowledge this image is copyright Richard Meredith-Hardy and I agree that I am purchasing this image for personal use only and it will not be duplicated or reproduced in any form whatsoever.
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
This is probably the best shot from the shockwave sequence and clearly shows the shockwave extending out 200ft or so either side of the car. The horizontal line in the dust near the top of the frame is where the timing guys drove back and forth to check their gear, so Andy is inside the measured mile at this point, going somewhere around 750 mph. The desert surface at Black Rock is quite soft so the car could only run on each 'track' once, the lines parallel to the car are wheel marks from previous runs.
For commercial use, please contact
This image is available for personal use as an A2 (approx 420mm × 594mm) size print on glossy photographic paper.
Step 1 Please select shipping method
First class post to UK: included in price.
Airmail to rest of World: Add £
Total price: £
Step 2 Personal use agreement I acknowledge this image is copyright Richard Meredith-Hardy and I agree that I am purchasing this image for personal use only and it will not be duplicated or reproduced in any form whatsoever.
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
Step 3 Proceed to checkout
This is a composite of half a dozen images from the shockwave sequence put together by photoshop wizard Robin Begley. Although an 'impossible' photo to take, it gives probably the best impression of any image of what a run by ThrustSSC on Black Rock desert actually looked like from our position in the microlights about 500 ft above. The main picture was published in Richard Noble's book Thrust: The Remarkable Story of One Man's Quest for Speed.
Once the engines were started and stable there was a few minutes delay while the Jaguar fire engine dashed the 8 miles or so from the car to the far end of the measured mile, hence the 'tower' of dust at the beginning. Andy Green would then release the brakes and on idle power let the car build up to 150 mph or so to avoid 'hoovering' any FOD (stones and debris) into the engines. Thereafter he let his 110,000 horses loose and with the afterburners fired up he would be accelerating at something like 25 mph / sec.
Accelerating through 550 mph Andy experienced an instability which caused a great deal of consternation amongst the technical team but was never really solved; and meant he weaved almost lock to lock for the next four seconds until about 650 mph when it settled down again. In the microlights we could always see this, and the wiggle in the dust-trail is clearly seen in the photo, it was also very evident that by having to endure this on every run, Andy was most definitely made of the right stuff.
In this photo the dust-trail is about seven miles long, he's about one second into the measured mile and the shockwave is very distinct. At this speed he covered the entire mile in only four seconds and on each of the five timed supersonic runs we experienced a terrific BOOM - BOOM in the microlights above.
