The Basics
POWER
POWER Sonic Wind is powered by a surplus LR-11 rocket engine that was left over from the Air Force's X-15 space plane project. It runs on liquid alcohol and liquid oxygen. Using a rocket engine has significant advantages over a jet engine, including the absence of air intakes, which increase drag. Stakes' may eventually use a more powerful rocket that runs on liquid oxygen and kerosene.
CHASSIS
The monocoque is made of ballistic fiberglass, and is best described as a cross between a missile and a big dart. It has a needle-nose point to it, and at the back is an "X" wing that looks like something out of Star Wars. Stakes' will sit in a cockpit in the nose of the vehicle.
BRAKING
Sonic Wind is light and will have a fraction of the kinetic energy of jet cars such as the Spirit of America and Thrust SSC land speed vehicles. Two parachutes will be the primary method of braking. Sonic Wind also has a hydraulically operated rake that gouges the ice. It is similar to the brake used by Olympic bobsleds, only Sonic Winds is twice as large.
STEERING
The vehicle has a blade/ski combination in the front and two blades in the back. Steering is accomplished by the front blade that turns and is also an airfoil. Steering is aerodynamic as well as dynamic.
ACCELERATION
The vehicle will accelerate about 50mph/second on a constant, or a little less than the world's fastest Top Fuel dragsters. Yet Sonic Wind will accelerate at this pace all the way to 900mph.