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The world's fastest wind-powered vehicle has been put on permanent display in Norfolk.After its record-breaking success earlier this year, Ecotricity's wind powered land yacht, Greenbird, was given a permanent home at the EcoTech Centre in Swaffham on Monday.
Seeing the yacht put in its final resting place was a satisfying moment for Richard Jenkins, who not only designed and engineered the vehicle, but piloted it to its world-record breaking success.
To unveil the yacht, Mr Jenkins was joined by Ecotricity director Dale Vince, whose company sponsored the Greenbird's record breaking attempts.
Mr Jenkins said: “Breaking a land speed record with a naturally-powered vehicle provides a good demonstration of how technology could be used to change the average car.
“It is a bit like the difference between a Formula One car and a normal car. The Greenbird is not practical, but the technology can filter down to an electric road car that is powered by the wind.”
Mr Jenkins spent 10 years developing a wind-powered vehicle that could break the land speed record of 116 mph set by Bob Schumacher in March 1999.
Despite a failed attempt in 2008, Mr Jenkins finally smashed the speed on, March 26, on the dry bed of Lake Ivanpah in California, USA.
The Greenbird reached a speed of 126.2 mph by using a combination of aeroplane, sailboat, and Formula One car technology.
Its vertical sails and efficient design allow the land craft travel between three and five times the real wind speed.
“Over the years it was a really difficult challenge, but in the end it was surprisingly straightforward,” Mr Jenkins added.
“I have designed five different vehicles and tested them in four different countries.
“But we got the right wind conditions and surface traction in America that allowed the Greenbird to beat the record and come close to reaching its ultimate speed”
The next target for Mr Jenkins is to try to break the world speed record set by a naturally powered vehicle on ice.
Ecotricity will also be sponsoring Mr Jenkins record-breaking attempts when he takes his ice craft to the frozen Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana, USA, next year.
Greenbird - World Fastest Wind Powered Vehicle on Earth Video
