Supplier donates metal sheets for project to rebuild jet boat
THE legendary Bluebird in which Donald Campbell was killed as he tried to break the world water speed record is being rebuilt with the help of a Midland firm 50 years after that fateful day.
Industrial materials group Thyssenkrupp, based in Cradley Heath, has provided the Bluebird Project with the sheet metal and 350kg aluminium billets needed to rebuild the iconic jet-engined hydroplane, recovered from the depths of Coniston Water in Cumbria in 2001.
The project aims to restore the wreck of the revolutionary Bluebird K7, which had broken seven world records at the time of the shocking accident on January 4, 1967.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Campbell’s ill-fated escapade as he bid to break his own 276mph world water speed record.
Campbell was just 200 yards from the end of the second leg of his record attempt when the accident happened.
He looked on course to shatter the speed, with Bluebird averaging almost 300mph – but as he entered the measured kilometre, his velocity caused the craft’s nose to lift 30 feet out of the water.
Bluebird somersaulted and crashed back into the lake, splitting in half on impact and decapitating Campbell instantly.
On the first leg he had reached speeds of 297mph and he wanted to top 308mph on the return journey.
It is thought he hit the target seconds before the accident – but the record remained unbroken because both legs of the attempt were not completed.
In August 2000 a team led by Bill Smith, an engineer and part-time diver, located the wreckage of the Bluebird and Campbell’s remains.
His body was recovered in 2001, and an inquest heard that he had turned too quickly into the second run and encountered his own wake.
He tried to brake but it was too late. His chilling last words – “I’m going!” – were captured over the radio.
Greg Buxton, a former employee of Thyssenkrupp, knew the Bluebird Project’s Mr Smith at the time of the discovery through their passion for diving, and introduced his employers to the project. The first donations of sheet aluminium were made in 2006.
“We’ve used virtually everything that came out of the lake but we’ve had to reshape what’s available to use and replace some other parts”, said Mr Smith.
“We were just starting out on the restoration when, by chance, Greg