Record-breaking Bluebird K7 in Lakeland spiritual home return

THE RECORD-BREAKING hydroplane Bluebird K7 is set to return to its spiritual home in the Lake District next summer.

The jet-powered boat will provisionally undergo trials on Coniston Water in Cumbria between July 19 and 28. Its pilot, Donald Campbell, died on January 4 1967 aged 45 when Bluebird flipped into the air and disintegrated as he attempted a new water speed record on Coniston Water.

In 2001 Campbell’s body – with his race suit intact – and the wreckage of Bluebird were recovered from the depths of the lake and he was buried later that year in the village of Coniston.

Volunteers have been working on the hydroplane’s restoration under the leadership of Tyneside-based engineer Bill Smith. In August, Bluebird K7 – fitted with a new jet engine – hit speeds of about 150mph during successful tests and crew training on Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.

Anthony Robinson, the Bluebird Event Working Group’s chairman and a Bluebird K7 team member in 1967, said next year’s relaunch at Coniston would attract worldwide interest with a festival of events planned.

Following the trials and decommissioning, he said Bluebird

K7would be go into the purposebuilt Bluebird Wing of the Ruskin Museum in the heart of the village. Mr Robinson said: “The restored Bluebird K7 will be an inspirational exhibit to all who view her in the museum – especially the younger members of our society, who can learn from and be inspired by both the craft’s marvellous historic achievements and the bravery of her iconic pilot Donald Campbell, who drove her, and the engineering skills of the team who have restored her.”

Campbell broke eight world speed records on water and on land in the 1950s and 1960s. In his fatal record attempt, the son of Sir Malcolm Campbell, who himself held speed records, had set himself a target of reaching 300mph on Coniston Water.