In October 1997, a strange-looking black vehicle lined up on a dry lakebed in Nevada. ThrustSSC looked more like a fighter jet without wings than a car. Strapped to its sides were two huge jet engines normally used on military planes. The driver, RAF pilot Andy Green, was about to attempt something no car had ever done.
ThrustSSC hit 763 miles per hour - about 1,228 km/h - breaking the sound barrier on land for the first time in history. People standing near the track heard a double crack like thunder as the shockwave rolled past. The land speed record had officially gone supersonic.
Steering a 10-ton car at that speed is barely possible. The wheels were solid aluminum because rubber tires would have shredded instantly. ThrustSSC had no traditional brakes - Andy had to deploy parachutes and air brakes to slow down. Its record has stood for over 25 years.
