East Lancs firms helped Thrust to world record

RAF fighter pilot Andy Green shattered the existing landmark by 81mph at Nevada's Black Rock Desert last night in his twin-engined Thrust SuperSonic car.

It hurtled through the measured mile to set a new record of 714mph.

Two companies, Brookhouse Patterns Ltd/Brookhouse Composites Ltd, of Darwen, and Nelson-based PDS (CNC) Engineering played a major part in the record-busting effort.

Brookhouse Patterns and Brookhouse Composites, based at India Mills, manufactured the tooling which made parts for the composite engine inlets.

Sales manager Terry Unsworth: "We feel very proud and we believe that Andy Green will go forward and break the sound barrier. "The Thrust team visited us recently and we were kept in regular touch with the world record attempt via the Internet."

PDS manufactured several parts for Thrust, including brake components, suspensions pins, gearbox adjusting rings and wheel bearing carriers.

The firm, based in Cliffe Street, also acted as the UK engineering support base for the world record attempt.

Managing director Chris Woodcock said: "If there was a mechanical problem we were the first point of contact.

"Luckily there were no major hitches except computer problems.

"Andy Green was quoted as saying that the brakes saved the day after the first parachute failed.

"The brakes normally slow the car down from 150mph but they had to work from a much higher speed because of parachute failure.

"We are chuffed to bits. It was a team effort."

The Inbis Group, of Bamber Bridge, also manufactured some of the components for Thrust.

The car made two flawless passes in opposite directions. Both runs were at or over 9/10ths the speed of sound in the cool temperature. The sound barrier changes with temperature, increasing as temperature rises.

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