22 Oct 2007 | Ref. 334/2007
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Typhoon Take Off alongside Bugatti Veyron
Warton, UK. Staff at BAE Systems in Warton and Samlesbury will be glued to BBC’s Top Gear programme on Sunday, 28 October.
While Richard ‘Hamster’ Hammond will take to a runway for another superfast run in a word-beating car, this time he will be racing against a Eurofighter Typhoon. The fast-jet fighter is assembled and tested by workers here in the North West of England – as one of four partner nations involved in the production of the Eurofighter.
Top Gear’s Hammond will be driving a Bugatti Veyron which boasts over 1,001hp and a 252mph top speed. His opponent the RAF’s Typhoon Display Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Jim Walls will be flying a Eurofighter Typhoon which can produce 18 tons of afterburner thrust and has a top speed at least twice the speed of sound.
To make the race as fair as possible it was decided that the car would cover a measured mile and back along the runway at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, timed against a Eurofighter Typhoon taking off alongside it and climbing a mile upwards and diving down again to cross the finishing line at a height of 100 feet.
Hammond said: “It is a recipe for huge fun. We have taken one of the most exotic and expensive cars in the world and pitched it against one of the most technologically advanced and fabulous fighters.” Typhoon, the multi-role fighter, is set to be the backbone of the Royal Air Force (RAF) for the next 30 years.
Top Gear's assistant producer Alex Renton said: “We got the idea of going out there and seeing what cars could compete with Typhoon. And there was no doubt in our minds that the Bugatti was the main contender.
“Why Typhoon? Well, it’s the RAF’s new toy,” explained Alex. “We have read so much about it in the press, and have heard about its agility and amazing performance in the air, both at subsonic and supersonic speeds, we really wanted to have a good look at this piece of kit”.
When the BBC put forward the proposal for the race RAF Air Command considered that the programme would be a positive way of increasing the public’s knowledge of the capabilities and advanced technologies of Typhoon, and it was subsequently approved, subject to very strict safety guidelines.
Once the financial details had been finalised under established defence Wider Markets procedures, with the BBC agreeing to meet all the RAF’s additional costs associated with the event, filming took place at RAF Coningsby on Tuesday and Wednesday 04 and 05 September.
Chris Boardman, managing director of Typhoon for BAE Systems, said: “Typhoon is now playing an increasingly important part in the work of the armed forces and in safeguarding and protecting the UK. Here in the north west, in BAE Systems, we are extremely proud to be helping make this happen. Top Gear is seen all around the world – this is a great showcase for its capabilities.”
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006*.
*On a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006
For further information please contact:
Trevor Field, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1772 856249 Mobile: +44 (0)7793 420413
trevor.field@baesystems.com
Mike Sweeney, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1252 383074 Mob: + 44 (0)7801 716452
mike.sweeney2@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
