News Archive - February, 2002

Friday, 22nd February 2002 - Windjet sets NEW British record of 113.4 mph (182.46 km/hr)

On Friday 22nd February, the Windjet team were again out on the Waddington Airfield in Lincolnshire, UK. However, although fresh westerly winds prevailed (the preferred direction for Windjet), the day was fraught with problems including rain and military flying requirements, which meant that our time on the airfield was very limited.

Morning showers prevented any early testing, but after the runway had dried and a number of false starts due to aircraft movements, Richard and Windjet finally made it out on the runway at 3.30 pm. With a wind strength of around 23 kts the very first run clocked 113.4 mph. However, the gods were not smiling, for as Richard sped around the taxiway in preparation for the next flying run, the skies cleared and the wind eased, meaning the next 18 runs were all between 85-100 mph as the wind fluctuated between 15-20 kts.

However, the day proved invaluable to fully test the new timing equipment and the impartial observer procedure required for the official ratification process. Hence, with triplicate raw data logging, filmed evidence and two impartial observers, we can confidently claim an Official British record of our top speed for the day, 113.4 mph, a tantalisingly close 3 mph away from the current world record!

Thursday, 21st February 2002 - Thales Join the Windjet Team

Thales Tracs, the world leader in telemetry, tracking and positioning solutions, has joined the Windjet team as Technical Partner for Tracking and Speed Measurement.

Thales have provided the Windjet team with their Tracs-TDMA equipment, an intelligent radio data network which integrates advanced UHF/VHF communications with differential GPS technology. Tracs-TDMA is a very high accuracy, positioning and tracking product for use in localised areas. This enables any one of the Windjet vehicles to be located, in a 15 mile radius, with a positional accuracy of better than one meter and a velocity accuracy of 0.1 mph.

The equipment uses the GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites with corrections from the Thales LandStar professional Differential GPS service to provide accurate speed of the craft five times every second. This information is not only stored onboard the craft but also relayed once per second, via a radio link, to the Control Station. For increased safety, additional units have been installed in the support vehicles to provide the base station computer with additional information regarding the speed and location of all support units.

"Thales' involvement is invaluable as this equipment will provide the primary speed measurement system," said James Fitch, Windjet's Support Team Manager. "It is important for safety to be able to locate the Windjet craft and all support vehicles at any point in time and the Thales system enables us to do just that."

The equipment underwent its first full test on Wednesday, 20th February, recording the Windjet land craft at a speed of 99.7 mph in only 15 to 20 knots of wind.

Wednesday, 20th February 2002 - Windjet Confirmed at Waddington Airshow

Windjet has confirmed its attendance at this year's RAF Waddington International Airshow. The RAF's premier aviation spectacular, will take place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2002 and will feature a superb seven hour flying display as well as numerous static displays and exhibits.

The Windjet land craft will be there for the duration of the show along with the entire Windjet Team.

Thursday, 14th February 2002 - Team Transport Laid To Rest

Pugly, the Windjet Support Vehicle, has come to the end of its useful life. On Thursday, 14th February 2002, Richard Jenkins sadly broke the news to the team that Pugly was no more.

R.I.P. Pugly - we'll miss you!!!

Monday, 11th February 2002 - The Great Location Debate Begins!

Richard Jenkins, Windjet Project Director and Pilot, has called on the knowledge and expertise of the land, ice and marine sailing communities in order to find the ideal locations for the Windjet challenges. Keen to push the vehicles to their absolute limits, Jenkins has asked sailors around the world to come up with ideas as to where the best global locations for speed sailing are on land, ice and water. When asked why he has made this request, Jenkins answered,

"...to initiate discussion that not only promotes the sports of land sailing, ice yachting and speed sailing world-wide, but gets like minded people talking with intention of sharing knowledge, experience or even just ideas."

Wednesday, 6th February 2002 - What happened to Storm Force?

You may have noticed the recent change in name of the Windjet supporters club from Storm Force. This is simply because the previous name may have created confusion as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's youth supporters section is known as "Storm Force".

We at Windjet recognise the importance of the RNLI's work and hence we have taken this measure to reduce any distraction from the RNLI's fund raising schemes.

Friday, 1st February 2002 - Why, with all this wind, isn't Windjet running?

As many of you will know, Britain has been battered by exceptionally high winds over the last week which have caused havoc across the country. The current weather conditions have prompted one question to be asked more frequently that any other; "Why, if we have so much wind, isn't Windjet running?"

The answer lies in the direction of the wind; Windjet requires a crosswind in order to run. It is true to say that the wind over the last week has been of suitable strength, however the land craft is confined to running in the direction of the runway at Waddington. Most runways, including the strip at RAF Waddington, are built into the prevailing wind direction. The closely packed isobars (right) imply that the wind is strong while also showing the wind direction is almost in line with the runway.
The general rule of thumb is that in an anticyclone system (like to one pictured above), if you stand yourself in line with the isobars and have the centre of the low pressure system to your left, the wind will be at your back. With this in mind and the fact that Waddington's runway runs almost North-East to South-West, it is clear to see that the elements are again conspiring against the Windjet team.

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