A supersonic car which can reach speeds of 1,000mph rolled into Perth.
The rocket and jet-powered machine took three hours to travel 112 miles from Inverness to Perth in an articulated lorry but, theoretically, it could make the journey in seven minutes at top speed.
Pupils from local schools met the car at Merlin ERD’s new global HQ in the Fair City. The engineering company is sponsoring the Bloodhound as it attempts to beat the world land speed record next year in South Africa.
The £20m project includes an education initiative aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Pupils from Perth High School and St Ninian’s Primary School have been racing balloon-propelled cars and will build and race tethered rocket cars before the summer break.
P6/7 class teacher Colleen Simpson said: “One of the parents is an ambassador for the project so he organised for the children to go up.
“They loved it. They were raving about it today.
“We are doing some mini engineering projects. This is a physics element of the science curriculum. It’s been a great opportunity.”
The Bloodhound is currently in the build phase. It will begin high-speed testing in 2013 and aims to reach 1,000mph in 2014.
By pushing the boundaries of advanced technologies, the project aspires to become as iconic as the manned space programme and Concorde.
The largest hybrid rocket ever designed in the UK, it combines solid fuel with liquid oxidiser to create its power, bringing technically demanding design and build techniques together.
Paul Kyle, from Merlin ERD, said: “I’m pleased the young people came away from their visit to see Bloodhound inspired by a real-life engineering project and have enjoyed the opportunity to see just how amazing engineering and technology can be.”