The aerospace-inspired 2005 Ford GT super car wins at speeds over 170 mph in a race
against a CAP 232 aerobatic plane at the world's largest air show, AirVenture.
Although onlookers at the world's largest air show, AirVenture,
had their feet on the ground, there is no doubt many hearts were flying as
Ford Motor Company raced its 2005 Ford GT super car against a CAP 232 aerobatic
plane at the show.
Built on advanced lightweight materials, technology and manufacturing
assembly processes used in aerospace, the Ford GT is much like a fighter
aircraft, such as the F16 and F18.
All-aluminum space frame - like an aluminum air frame - consisting of complex
cast aluminum structures, detailed extruded aluminum cross members and stamped
aluminum components. The space frame is designed to be light enough to meet
performance targets, yet durable and stiff enough for handling severe road loads
seen during extreme driving conditions. The hybrid aluminum space frame consists
of 35 detailed aluminum extrusions, four complex castings, four semi solid
formed nodes and conventionally stamped aluminum panels.
In order to preserve the vintage Ford GT40 styling,
super plastic formed aluminum body panels are engineered into the vehicle's
outer body structure combined with state-of-the-art carbon fiber materials.
Lightweight closures, including a two-piece super plastic formed door and a
lightweight aluminum carbon fiber rear deck, were used to reduce overall vehicle
weight.
The use of conventional and
advanced joining technologies are employed to provide added functional benefit,
including the use of friction stir welded aluminum, advanced high-strength
structural adhesives and specially designed mechanical fasteners to enable
attachment of the aluminum body panels. Automated welding was the primary
joining technology used to assemble the hybrid space frame extrusions to
castings, providing enhanced mechanical properties and improved stiffness.
High-strength two-part structural epoxy adhesives were used to supplement
mechanical fasteners, providing additional torsional and bending stiffness
benefits, as well as benefits in reducing noise, vibration and harshness in the
space frame and body system. Mechanically fastening the body in white to the
space frame was accomplished using machinable self-locating aluminum rivnuts, a
unique and cost effective method for attaching body panels to a space frame.
Ford Milestones in Air Travel in Land and Air
Previous week's spectacle of wings and wheels has special significance for Ford and
its history. Most people know that Ford founder Henry Ford brought land travel
to the masses with his Model T. But few recall that he did the same for air
travel - making flight available to the masses with the Ford Tri-Motor plane.
With that, Henry would be proud to know the two worlds continue to combine in
Ford's supercar of the future, the Ford GT:
- Ford laid the foundation for the world's modern system of commercial aviation,
including the first modern airport and popularization of all-metal aircraft with
the Ford Tri-Motor.
- In 1954, Ford Motor Company introduces the Thunderbird: named for the
thunderbird, which according to Indian legend was a divine helper of man.
- 1964, Ford Motor Company introduces the Ford Mustang, whose name is inspired by
the WWII P-51 fighter plane.
- The company was founded the same year - 1903 - as the Wright brothers' famous
flight; Henry Ford and the Wright brothers become friends.
- It was Henry and Edsel Ford who put the nation on wings through their efforts to
develop aircraft to serve the public, then building public confidence in their
safety, reliability and necessity.
- In the 1920s, Ford Motor Company becomes the world's largest manufacturer of
aircraft.
- Ford built one B-24 bomber an hour at its Willow Run plant during World War II.
- Just as Henry made automobiles accessible by the masses through assembly line
production, he brought commercial flight to the masses by applying the assembly
line method to planes.
- Ford laid the foundation for our modern system of commercial aviation, including
the world's first modern airport with a concrete runway and all-metal aircraft
with the Ford Tri-Motor.
- For his pioneering efforts, Henry Ford was enshrined in the National Aviation
Hall of Fame in 1984 and recognized by the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission
on Dec. 17, 2002.
Ford Motor Company sponsors Countdown to Kitty Hawk, the year-long celebration
of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight at Kitty
Hawk.
Ford GT: One of World's Fastest Cars
Just as the Ford GT40 was the first race car to break the 200-mph barrier at
LeMans, the new 2005 Ford GT has become the first production road car wearing
the Ford badge to achieve top speed in excess of 200 mph. During engineering
testing for high-speed stability and powertrain durability at Italy's famed
Nardo test facility, the Ford GT reached a certified top speed of 205 mph. In
1996, a GT40 reached a trap speed of 201mph on the Mulsanne Straight during the
24 Hours of LeMans endurance race, and now the new Ford GT continues that legend
by again breaking new ground.
"Driving the Ford GT at speeds above 200 mph was remarkably uneventful, which is
a very positive outcome," said Mark McGowan, Ford GT vehicle dynamics
supervisor, driver during the Nardo testing and driver for the AirVenture race.
"The Ford GT race with jet aircraft is the perfect way to illustrate this
vehicle's roots in aerospace and to bring full circle Ford's heritage with the
GT40's speed record."