Earthsky Interviews
Private: North American Eagle Project eyes speed record
12-01-2006 - Uncategorized
Read or listen: Ed Shadle, world land speed challenger 
JB: Shadle intends to drive a vehicle over 1,300 kilometers – or 800 miles – per hour. It’s called the North American Eagle, and it’s no ordinary car, but a retired fighter plane modified by Shadle’s team to race on land.
DB: After a British team set the land speed record in the Blackrock desert of Nevada in the 1990s, Shadle said he felt inspired to challenge it.
Ed Shadle: What came from that was the idea that instead of building a fuselage that was hand-built, we had built a prototype that we had played around with and found out what our shortcomings were, that’s where we came upon the idea of using an existing aerospace design, which was, of course, the fuselage of an F-104 Starfighter. We knew that that aircraft design was built for high speed, and with a few modifications we figured that we could probably make this thing go fast on land.
JB: Shadle and his team have been in the testing phase for almost a decade. Now, Shadle said, he’s ready to start “stepping up the speed” for an attempt at the record in 2007.
DB: More – including how to get involved in the North American Eagle Project – at earthsky.org. Our thanks today to “NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission”:http://www.aero-space.nasa.gov/. We’re Block and Byrd for Earth & Sky.
The website of the “North American Eagle Project”:http://www.landspeed.com/default.asp has information about how to support and sponsor the American attempt at the world land speed record, in addition to picture galleries of the vehicle and crew, and more about the project’s leader, Ed Shadle.
Our thanks to:
Ed Shadle
Owner and Driver
North American Eagle Project
World Landspeed Challenger
I for the life of me cannot understand why anyone feels the need to waste all the money that goes into a project of this type. The idea of owning a speed record that cannot be used to further humanity’s needs. Millions in the world are starving and people waste money on stupid things like this. I would be more impressed if he were trying to find a cure for MS or cancer, something that would really benifit mankind, Not someone’s EGO!!!
I’m with Royce! Who cares?
Come on you guys! The human spirit ever-striving for new heights … or in this case new speeds?
When Anthony Hopkins (playing the role of Burt Munro) attempted exactly this in the 2005 movie The World’s Fastest Indian, everybody (in the movie) loved him for it!
Here’s another cool story about a 71-year-old Minnesotan, heart and kidney transplant recipient Ardell Lien, soon to arrive in San Diego on October 19th after sailing solo around the world.
I love this quote from his log book:
“Making pancakes a short while ago was a show indeed. A cake hit the floor, it tasted fine. Remember Grandma said you had to eat a pound of dirt before you die. Was it a pound or a bushel? I took a break, now an hour later and the wind is down to the high teens, same direction. That’s all for now, weather and seas consume my thoughts.”
Good luck Ardell!!!!!
To Royce and Mary Rigby, I care!! We all contribute something to the life we live. Maybe before your get so critical of Ed Shadle for following his dream, you should ask yourselves what you have accomplished! God bless and good Luck Ed!
The need to improve any thing we use, including speed, is human
nature, perhaps some thing they learn from these speed records
may save your life in the future, as it does with tires, brakes
and other things learned thru racing in the last seventy odd
years, keep up the good work guys.
I just finished watching a special on the Discovery channel, from the series Megabuilders. This show highlighted Ed Shadle, and some of his work at trying to break the land speed record. All I can say is “BRAVO” to Ed, and the entire team of the NORTH AMERICAN EAGLE! During the broadcast, Ed makes a statement, of which the gist is this…………”You can tell in a moment, those who have THE VISION, and those who don’t.” Unfortunately far too many individuals in this country have lost sight of “THE VISION”. Is it any wonder that the worlds engineers are now learning in OUR institutions of knowledge, and then taking their knowledge back to their homelands of Pakistan, India, and Africa. We, as a nation need to step back up to the plate, and swing for the home run, not just settle for getting on base. We need to get behind people like Ed, and others like him, who are not afraid to have “THE VISION”. If we do not, my heart sinks to think of where we will end up as a nation. “THE VISION” is about striving to be, and do, that which no other man has ever dared think about. Where would we be without the spirited thinkers of days gone by. I speak of the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, Chuck Yeager, Craig Breeedlove, Stephan Hawking, Leonardo DaVinci, Louis Pastuer, and all those intelligent enough, and daring enough to DREAM, and chase after, “THE VISION”. It is only with the free thinking, and quest of “THE VISION”, that our great nation has risen to the heights we all have enjoyed. Without people with “THE VISION”, our great nation will perish, to those who still embrace the thought, that the impossible, is possible. Kudos, much luck, and God’s blessings to the entire team of the NORTH AMERICAN EAGLE.
Sincerely,
Randy Vilhauer
To Royce and Mary. What if no one ever attempted the impossible. What a dull world this would be. Why you wouldn’t even have a computer to post your entry. And Mary, If you could care less, why did you post? I commend Mr. Shadle and hope that he can continue his pursuit until he conqures it. Don’t back down Mr. Shadle.
I think we all should send this guy the money he needs to do this. I’m going to buy a lottery ticket, and when I win, I’ll immediately send $50,000 to buy the wheels. Go,Go,Go. Good luck!
Yes, nothing is more important than feeding the hungry and helping the homeless. But, my gosh, who feeds the soul and our dreams. Just maybe God has given this dream to Ed Shadle. I truly hope he makes it. This would truly be a wonderful piece of news in a time where death and destruction prevail.
SALUTATION! I AM FROM BRAZIL!
I saw you on TV, AMAZING! THAT IS THE WAY, TEARS ROLLED FROM MY EYES, WHAT I LIKED SO MUCH WAS THE BRAKE SYSTEM….HOWL! IT IS RULES, AS THE HEAVY METAL PEOPLE SAY… I APPRECIATE HEAVY METAL! HEEHEHHEHE… CARRY ON! IF I HAD GOT MONEY I WOULD APPRECIATE AID YOU ALL, AHHHHHHHHHHHH
(DO NOT CARE ABOUT MY BROKE ENGLISH I HAVE LEARNED ALONE AND I NEED AMELIORATE)
I think this is great. This kind of competitive spirit is what has made our country great. Some lessons learned from this prject may trickle down to making our grand kids cars safer or more efficiant. If he found a cure for cancer, the U.S. government wouldn’t allow that to get out. Cancer treatment is a huge industry in our country, and if ti were cured, they couldn’t continue to treat it.
Wow,i can’t get Enought about Airbus lossing it @#$%!!!!!!!