The problem with a jet that has no wings is that it has to be in contact with a rough surface. Even the flat, smooth lake bed for speed trials is extremely rough compared with debris in the air. Taking the Bloodhound car up to 1,000mph means the car will need impervious wheels

The 97kg aluminium discs that will act as its wheels will have to resist being blasted by a stream of grit thrown up from underneath the vehicle as it races across a dry lake bed at over 1,000mph.

Researchers are trying to identify the best alloy for the task.

This has resulted in them firing pieces of grit at samples of metal using a gas gun at Cambridge University.

Or they could attach wings, get a little lift to retract the main wheels and just use one little wheel dragging along to say it was still on the ground…