52 Express
| Manufacturer | Alex Macfadzean |
|---|---|
| Class | Streamliner |
| Engine | 1,000 hp (750 kW) Rolls-Royce Gem turboshaft |
| Transmission | Single-speed[1] Dual belt drive |
| Tires | Front: Solid or pneumatic Rear: 500 mph rated Mickey Thompson pneumatic[2] |
52 Express is a turbine powered streamliner motorcycle designed and built by Alex Macfadzean as an all-British land-speed record challenger. It was first displayed to the public in 2014, and as of late 2014 has not been speed tested in public. The intended rider is retired British racer James Toseland.[3]
The 52 Express was shown at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2013.[4]
Construction[edit]
The design team are all British.[5] The machine was primarily designed and created by Alex Macfadzean, who holds the British motorcycle land speed record.[6] Macfadzean had worked as crew member on Don Vesco's wheel-driven land speed record holding (as of 2014) automobile Turbinator in 2001.[7][8]
The powerplant is a 1,000-horsepower (750 kW) Rolls-Royce Gem turboshaft engine, originally built for helicopter applications.[1][9] The rear wheels are driven by dual Kevlar belts.[2]
According to Bennetts and others, the rear tire may be constructed of polyurethane by a roller coaster wheel manufacturer.[2][9]
Students at University of Derby have provided aerodynamic studies of the body and air intakes.[5][6] They aim to create a design with coefficient of drag less than 0.121.[1] However as of June 2016 this task has been adopted by Cranfield University.
A second nearly identical streamliner with a BMW K1100 piston engine has been built for testing.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Mike Nicks (10 January 2014), "The 400 mph motorbike", The Daily Telegraph
- ^ a b c "Toseland landspeed project gathers momentum", Bikesocial, Bennetts, 29 June 2013
- ^ Troy Siahaan (23 July 2013), Two-Time WSBK Champion James Toseland Gunning For Motorcycle Land Speed Record, Motorcycle.com
- ^ ROGER HOUGHTON (18 July 2013), "INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Feast for the motoring enthusiast", Business Day, Johannesburg, South Africa
- ^ a b World Record Bid Super Bike Wows Speed Fans, University of Derby, 6 August 2013, archived from the original on 19 February 2014, retrieved 22 October 2014
- ^ a b Tim Watson (21 January 2014), James Toseland to Attempt Land-Speed Record, RideApart
- ^ Louise Ann Noeth (2001), Big 5 Flirt: the quest for 500 miles per hour, Society of Automotive Engineers
- ^ IME speaker bio: Alex Macfadzean Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME))
- ^ a b Gary Gastelu (17 July 2013), Turbine-powered motorcycle aiming for 400 mph land speed record, Fox News
- ^ Troy Siahaan (23 July 2013), Two-Time WSBK Champion James Toseland Gunning For Motorcycle Land Speed Record, motorcycle.com