Bluebird

[earlybird]

Apparently, Donald Campbell's boat is at an advanced stage of restoration. Local BBC news yesterday was saying that trials are scheduled in August for Bute. I had visions of meeting her in the Kyles.
However, The Telegraph now confirms that Loch Fad is the intended location.
I'm somewhat relieved, I wouldn't have appreciated the jet blast!
Perhaps they'll post a wake-shot in the MoBo forum?

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

its now doing trials on Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute. Got to 130mph yesterday.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

. . . doing trials on Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute. . .

Any idea why they chose to take it to Bute for trials?

 

[RichardS]

Any idea why they chose to take it to Bute for trials?

Perhaps that was the family seat of the Campbells? I've no idea but that was the thought that struck me.

Richard

 

[savageseadog]

Any idea why they chose to take it to Bute for trials?

Not allowed on the Lakes?

 

[Biggles Wader]

More appropriate to fly it over the white cliffs of Dover

 

[capnsensible]

More appropriate to fly it over the white cliffs of Dover

Theres only one.

 

[macd]

Further info (well, a bit) and Buteful plugs on the dedicated wbsite: http://www.bluebirdproject.com/index.php?id=78

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

fall out with lake district idiots. The atmoshere on Bute is unbelievable and the island has bent over backwards to accommodate the team for this historic moment. Bet the lake district people are sorry now ! Hopefully it can be resolved and still do a run on Coniston water as planned.

 

[savageseadog]

It seems a pity to put into salt water

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

its not in salt water

 

[Quandary]

It seems a pity to put into salt water

When will they do that?

 

[savageseadog]

its not in salt water

I assumed the Kyles, mistake

 

[Tranona]

Just as interesting is the article in this month's PBO on the restoration and running of his father's K3 even if it does now have a RR Meteor tank V12 engine rather than the original. The owners do have that, though - just too valuable to run.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Not allowed on the Lakes?

And, they say, Loch Fad is nice and shallow so they can recover it easily if it sinks.

The whole project seems ghoulish in the extreme to me, but I am quite impressed at how far they have got.

 

[Sandy]

I've seen some clips on Facebook. It looks very, very unstable.

 

[penberth3]

...The whole project seems ghoulish in the extreme to me...

ISTR a lot of controversy along those lines when Bluebird was originally recovered.

 

[johnalison]

In spite of its demise, Bluebird was remarkably successful in its time. I can appreciate the attraction of restoring her but fail to see the point in attempting to emulate her now historic career. I'm not sure that the water speed record now has any significance and basically these craft are just seaplanes without wings. More importantly, I have no wish to read of someone else being killed in the process.

 

[JumbleDuck]

ISTR a lot of controversy along those lines when Bluebird was originally recovered.

As far as I can see, almost the whole Campbell family (wife, sister and nephew) have said they wish this wasn't happening. I can see their point.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm not sure that the water speed record now has any significance and basically these craft are just seaplanes without wings.

To be of any interest to me, land speed has to be wheel driven and water speed has to be propeller driven. Everything else is just a plane eithout wings, as you say. And as for that ridiculous bloodhound project, attempting a purely arbitrary goal in a pointless way ... hah. I'm not alone in that view, I think, which is why it has run out of money and stalled for years.

More importantly, I have no wish to read of someone else being killed in the process.

Amen.