Post celebration and thanks
I am truly overwhelmed by the messages I have received in the last few days. I had no idea that so many people were following my efforts, so thanks so much for all the support. There is also a huge list of people I need to thank who have made this whole thing possible. Some enormous generosity over the years, from people all over the world, whether it is just letting me camp in their garden, use their workshop, donate materials or help out financially. It could not have been done without you and I hope you share the achievement.
I also need to thank Dale and Ecotricity, who were the only sponsor, of the thousands I must have spoken to over the years, who believed in the project and the dream. They provided the final cash injection which enabled me to make this last big push that has culminated in success. Before signing the deal, I was at rock bottom in terms of resources and was going to have to shelve the project and earn some money to continue, but you saved the day. It was only a fraction of the whole project cost, but at the right time and was spent on the right things. I could not have done it without you guys. Thanks.
So on to technical stuff, first the speed. It has been pointed out to me a few times now that the speed mentioned on the video is different from the 126.1mph quoted. This is due to the record rules requiring the average speed over three seconds (which is a fair distance at 126mph) so our peak speed was 126.4 and the three second average was 126.1. Bob Dill and the ratification crew are pouring over the data from the five onboard GPS devices and will reach the final number sometime soon, but my guess will be that it is around 126.1mph.
This really has been a phenomenal wind month, the windiest anyone can remember, in well, ten years I guess! There is another wind event forecast on Sunday / Monday, but I don’t think anything can compare to Thursday, so I am not going to try to increase the speed. The craft is in one piece and it would be cool if it stayed that way, so I am going to be prudent and pack it up today, before I get tempted by Sunday’s wind!
I hope you like the video. Simon Fitzgerald from BHP Sport has followed the project for the last ten years and it was amazingly cool that he was able to be here to shoot the actual record day. He did a fantastic job considering how difficult it was to even stand up in that wind, let alone hold a camera on maximum zoom. From the drivers perspective, it really is a good take on how it felt from the cockpit.
Wind and GPS track data to follow shortly.
Fantastic achievement – British enterprise at its best. A wonderful looking machine and a long time in the planning – well done
Comment by Rob Carr — March 28, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
This is an fantastic engine and record! The day you’re somewhere, everywhere on a lake in the world you have me to invite in you’re incredible machine!
B15
Comment by demuysere henri — March 28, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Richard,
In the midst of the excitement, perhaps you might have a moment to discuss some of the aerodynamic features of the body. Or maybe later would be better.
My interest is in making a road vehicle with absolutely the least possible aero drag. I start with a wheel system that has no aerodynamic function at all, rather it provides stability using a wheel system mechanism that adjusts wheel base width as a part of the turning action. Now the aerodynamics gets important.
Of course you know of the airship as a very low drag body, but that such a body works best in free flow conditions. Automotive tradition demands that cars be wide enough for side by side seating; this forces a width that is difficult to accommodate in a body of revolution. The resulting car is flat bottomed such that the body of revolution advantages are lost and the interaction with the ground is made as bad as possible. Perhaps we can break with tradition and insist on tandem seating. Now we have the possibility of a body of revolution like an airship whereby we might get a truly efficient vehicle.
Now to the question relevant to your landship, which is your use of body of revolution shapes very close to the ground. It appears that you rejected flattening of the bottom of your vehicle main body, or the outrigger pods. Does the rounded bottom surface, meaning the radius about the axis, keep the drag low enough that the ground is not a major factor?
In designing the intended efficient road vehicle I previously discussed, I am to a point in the design where it would be useful to have a greater degree of refinement in the data than I now have about the interaction of the bor shapes with the ground. This could have an impact on the design details that could still be adjusted.
I would be interested in what might be learned from your experience with the land ship as well as any general comments you might care to make. I would be glad to hear from others reading this on this site as well. (The Miastrada projects is completely free of confidentiality constraints.)
Comment by Jim Bullis, Miastrada Co. — March 28, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
Richard,
Congratulations and you tell us, briefly, what was the difference between yesterday’s run and the previous days’ runs? Was the wind more consistent, did you use a longer runway, different wing, tires, etc…?
Comment by Steve Hindman — March 28, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
Richard, what fabulous news! I’d like to offer congratulations on behalf of the BFSLYC and my home club Wind & Wheels. It great to see people smiling when talking about a British endeavour especially when it’s connected to our sport.
Comment by Adrian Wells — March 28, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
Well done mate! Look forward to following you tackling the next records on the horizon.
Comment by Stefan Dalberg — March 29, 2009 @ 1:09 am
A Big, Texas, Hoo-Aah! to you. Wonderful, fantastic achievement! Very proud of any sailor, water or otherwise, that pushes the envelope like this.
Comment by Charlie Dwyer — March 29, 2009 @ 6:58 am
Nice job. Aren’t there some soon-to-be-frozen lakes in Chile, Patagonia? You might not need to wait for winter in the northern hemisphere. Don’t forget to pack the Zamboni!
Comment by James — March 29, 2009 @ 8:23 am
Hi Richard
Massive Congratulations from lymington… give me a call when you get back and well go and have a few beers.
Kind Regards
Kev
Comment by Kev — March 29, 2009 @ 9:09 am
Well done Richard. Its a fantastic acheivement. We know all about long hard struggles on technical frontiers! Thanks for the inspiration.
Comment by malcolm barnsley — March 29, 2009 @ 9:59 am
What a ride it must have been! And a really interesting concept and great achievement. But why have I only just heard about it? Both the project and record attempts deserved more publicity.
Congratulations to all involved and good luck with the next project.
Comment by Keith Squibb — March 29, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Job Well Done RIchard!!! It was great to be there at Ivanpah watching you break the world record. I know it’s been a long ten years for you and it seems like long ago when I came out to Smith Creek the year you were there for two months waiting for good winds and that 108 mph you saw there during the Cow to Cow 500. I will always be there to help you in the future and hope your work in the US continues and the development work you are involved in for a consumer wind powered vehicle. Again, STAY FAST !!!! Maybe the ice record next???
Your landsailing friend, Mark Harris, Sparks, NV.
Comment by Mark Harris — March 29, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
This is an fantastic engine and record
Congratulations ,Richard, what fabulous news!
Comment by CORMIER baptiste — March 29, 2009 @ 5:54 pm
Richard,
Congratulations. You have really earned this after all that time and work. Sheer pluck!
Comment by Jonathan Howes — March 29, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
Richard,
Congrats again, sorry to hear that when I arrive there on the lakebed, the Greenbird will already be packed up.
Thats what I get for taking a shorter trip this year. DOH!
Hope to see you on the Playa tomorrow.
Regards,
Jason
Comment by Jason Robbins — March 29, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
Congratulations, Richard, to you and all the team. Your tenacity is much admired. Looking forward to the next step in your Triple Crown!
Comment by Jonathan Greenwood — March 30, 2009 @ 7:34 am
Well DONE Richard and the Team! What a thrill to see the run on film, must have been fantastic to be at the controls.
Cap’n Geoff in Scotland.
Comment by GEOFF PROVEN — March 30, 2009 @ 9:30 am
Very, very cool! Congratulations to the whole team! Get the ice! Get the ice!
Comment by mosquito — March 30, 2009 @ 10:07 am
Richard, this is genuinely inspirational. 10 years of pure balls, tenacity and talent. Congratulations! Ed
Comment by Ed Fidoe — March 30, 2009 @ 11:05 am
Un grand bravo !
I follow your attempts since a while, and I am very happy for you.
Hope you will have the same success for the ice record next winter.
And may be the water record later ?
Comment by Marc Legrelle — March 30, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
[...] has a pretty endearing thank you on his blog, check it out. Congratulations Jenkins, we look forward to your next record [...]
Pingback by Wind Powered Vehicle Hits 126 MPH, Breaks World Record : Gas 2.0 — March 30, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Congratulations from the Landsailers at the Alvord Desert in Oregon!
Comment by John Cogar — March 30, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Congratulations on this fantastic achievement. If industry has any sense at all, your work should result in even more attention being given to wind assistance for commercial shipping propulsion – I know some experiments have taken place in this field. I would hope you can eventually make some money to regain what you spent.
A good name, and she looks brilliant. I hope I can find a hi-res photo on your site, I want this beast on my wall.
Best regards,
Clive Pygott
Comment by Clive Pygott — March 30, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
Richard,
Congratulations, at long last you have achieved the dream you set out for 10 years ago, is it really that long? I have always admired your focus and drive with this project, it must be an immense satisfaction to have acheived the goal, and with such a fitting sponsor at the end.
Stay safe, stay fast, hopefully see on the water at some time.
Piers Stanbury
Comment by Piers Stanbury — March 31, 2009 @ 11:17 am
Richard,
Many, many congratulations. It seems so long since those early days with Windjet 1 at Bruntingthorpe and Waddington. I am absolutely delighted to see your dream (phase 1) come true. Now, the ice beckons!!
Comment by Steve at Kingpin Media — March 31, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Hi Clive, all…
High-res photos are here.
We also have some very tasteful wallpapers here.
Comment by paul — March 31, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
Congratulations Mr. Jenkins! May I use one of your pictures of greenbird (the front view) from http://www.greenbird.co.uk/about-the-greenbird/how-it-works in my website being developed. I want to use it as an illustration of wind’s (and maximizing magnetic flux) power in developing a magnetic vehicle. The site is expected to provide and be a source of information on magnetic vehicle development free of copyrite restrictions. While making money is always nice, I want to see the end product “out there” for the people! Thank you for your positive response in advance.
Cara Bissell
Comment by Cara Bissell — March 31, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Simply Awesome, A huge congrats to Richard and team…
I had the opportunity to hang out with you on Ivanpah a few years ago while you were running the WindJet and I must say I am happy to see that you have achieved your goals. Sorry I was not there to witness it.
Congrats,
–Jake
Comment by Jake Jacobs — April 1, 2009 @ 7:22 am
Hi Cara – feel free to use the picture – please credit/link to the Greenbird site though, if you don’t mind.
Paul
Comment by paul — April 1, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Richard congrats! We have some good video of you on Sunday. Its on the tail end of the vid.
Hope you can get to Montana next season.
John Eisenlohr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FVSyqL2coM
Comment by John Eisenlohr — April 4, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
Super cool Richard!!!
Nice experience & development !!
Comment by Patrick Mazeau Paris — April 7, 2009 @ 8:34 am
Richard
Just read the story on CNN – well done, Ive been following your quest thru your mother and vicariously on the web. Good show mate! Hope to catch up with you sometime. I hope to get to see Gina next few weeks as well now Im back in perth
Dave Hancock
Comment by Dave Hancock — April 10, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
Richard, thanks for coming to my party, it was great to meet you. Congratulations on your fantastic achievment. Steam record not too far behind!! All the best, Richard
Comment by Rich Channell — April 27, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Congrats Richard on your success, we look forward to your record on the ice also! You’ve given us a whole new outlook on the ice boats that race on Lake Pepin/Mississippi River. Stay Fast, Ross Johnson
Comment by KrooznGoldStudios — April 30, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
A bit belated but well done Richard and team. What a beautiful wind machine. British engineering and sponsored by an environmental energy firm.
It doesn’t get any better than that except when you get the next record. Good luck..
Comment by Chris Cooling — July 26, 2009 @ 5:27 pm