F-35 Engine for a car: 1/4 mile fastest?

rowbeartoe · by **rowbeartoe** » 22 Aug 2019, 08:37

Hi Everyone

As a fan of military jets and just the pure power from those engines I have to admit that after going to the NHRA drag races in July I was a little surprised to learn that the 1/4 mile speeds were faster in non jet cars (Top Fuel Drag cars). Something like 4 seconds and 350mph or faster. A Jet car called the Fireforce 5 did a 1/4 mile in 5 seconds at 310 mph- Fast but not faster than Top Fuel Drag cars. It is using a Pratt & Whitney J60 engine from a Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter. Would Jet cars be faster than the drag racing cars if they used modern military engines (even an F-16 engine) or would it not matter much because of other reasons?

Thanks.

edpop · by **edpop** » 22 Aug 2019, 21:30

It's all about the launch at the starting line. Jet cars take longer to get going from the dead start.

vilters · by **vilters** » 23 Aug 2019, 11:20

Static thrust of a jet is rather low but picks up when dynamic thrust builds with speed.
Not good for sprinting affairs.

sferrin · by **sferrin** » 23 Aug 2019, 12:47

I think if somebody calculated how much force was being applied by the tires at the contact area it would be obvious why the 6000 hp motor driving wheels wins. (Turn your turbojet into a turboshaft and use it to drive wheels and you'd get the same effect.)

jaws · by **jaws** » 24 Aug 2019, 20:46

It will be quite a long time before we ever observe a surplus F-35 engine sold off, most likely NEVER!

n3sk · by **n3sk** » 28 Sep 2019, 02:27

https://youtu.be/FuJz5zkIiUQ
Here is said car running that 5. I believe this car only makes around 5,500 lbs of thrust and weights 1,200 lbs.

I think the biggest problem is safely stoping. Being as an F-135 Weights around 4,000lbs it would be a bear to stop. Top fuel weight around 2,300 lbs. I could see the entire F-135 powered car weighting well over 5,000lbs. I know back years ago a jet car went for the track record at emerald coast drag way, which is an 1/8 mile and went off the end of the track. I think he got the record, 3.7 at 230mph if my memory serves me correct. Here is a vid of two jet cars running a 4.1 at the same track Emeraldbcoast more recently. https://youtu.be/ML2l3yc9lRU

Doesn’t the airforce run a funny car? Too bad someone can’t convince them to built a jet powered monster.

element1loop · by **element1loop** » 28 Sep 2019, 03:04

n3sk wrote:Doesn’t the airforce run a funny car? Too bad someone can’t convince them to built a jet powered monster.

Military budgets are for defense.

n3sk · by **n3sk** » 28 Sep 2019, 19:27

Correct. The US military is volunteer service. It was done as a marketing tool. I can’t think of anything that would grab more attention than a 40,000lbs thrust car moving down the track.

rowbeartoe · by **rowbeartoe** » 19 Mar 2020, 06:46

n3sk wrote:Correct. The US military is volunteer service. It was done as a marketing tool. I can’t think of anything that would grab more attention than a 40,000lbs thrust car moving down the track.

Hell Yeah! Come see the USAF F-35 Jet Car! OMG- that would be a fan favorite! Apparently, we need more pilots! Anything we can to market Jets, even a Jet Car could help.

Anyhow- I'd love it.

geforcerfx · by **geforcerfx** » 19 Mar 2020, 08:31

I would rather see them poor some of that SRB knowledge and funding into a drag racer, max power on demand, insane thrust to weight ratios, would be fun to watch.