Andy, why did you want to drive 'Thrust'?
I’ve always had a fascination [interest] for land speed record breaking. Watching Richard Noble making his attempts in 1983, and actually achieving his record 12 years ago just impressed me enormously. [In October 1983, Richard Noble became the fastest man on earth when he set a new land speed record. Noble was the man behind the present Thrust project]

You chose a career with ‘speed’ in the Royal Air Force. Why?
Flying fighter aircraft is a very challenging occupation and something you have to work hard at day-to-day. I’ve only been doing it for 10 years, and I still need lots and lots of practice, even though I’m a very experienced fighter pilot ...

The American Chuck Yeager was the first man to pilot a plane through the sound barrier. That was 50 years ago. What makes breaking the sound barrier on land so important?
It is the last great challenge in land speed record breaking. Once that’s done, the next big thing will be 1,000 mph (1,610kph), but that’s just a number. This is actually the speed of sound at ground level, and there’s nothing else like it ...

Breaking the sound barrier is not easy, there are many technical problems. Did you always feel that it could be done?
When I actually watched Richard do his record attempt [in 1983], I was aware of the problems .... I believed then that it was not possible to go supersonic on land ... I looked at it and I did not believe it was possible. I have had to change my ideas talking to guys, like designer Ron Ayers, because I was wrong. He said it could be done, and now I believe him.

How did you feel about controlling two jet engines with a steering wheel instead of a joystick as in an aircraft?
It really doesn’t matter what the control medium [system] is ... it’s actually the effect it gives you that’s important.

Most normal people would be scared if they were to sit between two Rolls-Royce Spey engines spitting out flames and 110,230 kgs of thrust. Did you get scared?
I’ve flown those engines before in the Phantom [a jet fighter], and then I was sitting as close if not closer to them. In fact, the noise that spectators hear is at the rear [back] end ... I’m up by the front ... all the noise is behind me. You don’t really hear it, to be honest.