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Topic starter
04/01/2022 10:21 am
Today is the 55th Anniversary of the death of Donald Campbell during the Bluebird K7 World Record Attempt on January 4th, 1967 at Coniston Water, Scotland.
The original concept for this all-metal jet-powered boat was conceived in 1952 when the World Water Speed Record was held by the American Stanley Sayres at 178.49 mph. After John Cobb's death in "Crusader K6", while trying to regain this record for Britain, Donald Campbell decided to have this new contender built for a fresh attempt.
The Bluebird K7 would be the most advanced hydroplane in the world at the time of its construction.Designed by the Norris brothers, she was launched in January 1955 and broke the World Water Speed Record the following July, at 202.323 mph. By 1964, K7 had raised her own record six times to a speed of 276.30 mph. All these records were set using a Metro-Vickers "Beryl" turbo-jet engine, although various modifications were incorporated into the hull and sponsons during this time.
Campbell would take the boat all around the world, displaying it across the USA, UK, Canada, and Europe before he went for what looked like his final attempt at the water speed record in December 1964.
Campbell would go on to set the world water speed record at 276.33 mph on Lake Dumbleyung in Australia on New Years' Eve 1964.
Note the shorter tail fin on this 1964 Record Bluebird K7.
This had also followed Campbell setting the world land speed record, in the equally beautiful gas-turbine-powered Bluebird-Proteus CN7. Campbell had set the record on Lake Eyre, again in Australia, at a speed of 403.1 mph.
Following his run-in K7 on New Years' Eve 1964, Campbell stated that he would probably retire K7 and leave it on display in a museum. However, in 1966, he decided to have one more go at extending the record.
With a new Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engine in the back, a tailfin from a Folland Gnat aircraft, and more modifications, K7 would be able to reach speeds over 300 mph. Initial testing had not gone well with the engine becoming fuel-starved, among other issues, but by late 1966 these issues had been fixed and Campbell was just awaiting a clear day to set the record. That day came on January 4th, 1967. Campbell was ready to push Bluebird over 300 mph and hopefully put the water speed record out of reach for good.
On the first run of the day, Donald Campbell had set an average speed of 197.6 mph, and K7 had peaked at 311 mph. Campbell, instead of refueling the boat and letting his own wake clear, came back immediately and went even faster, topping out at 320 mph. However, as she got faster and traveled through Campbell’s wash, K7 became very unstable. The K7 then lifted from the surface, somersaulted and crashed into the lake nose first, and cartwheeled across it, breaking into several pieces. Campbell was dead, and the K7’s remains were seen sinking to the bottom of Coniston Water, Scotland.
See also:
Models of the Bluebird K7 in 1/43 scale have been made by Touchwood models.
Bluebird K7 1:43 Scale
The original concept for this all-metal jet-powered boat was conceived in 1952 when the World Water Speed Record was held by the American Stanley Sayres at 178.49 mph. After John Cobb's death in "Crusader K6", while trying to regain this record for Britain, Donald Campbell decided to have this new contender built for a fresh attempt.
1956 Water Speed Record Bluebird K7
Designed by the Norris brothers, she was launched in January 1955 and broke the World Water Speed Record the following July, at 202.323 mph. By 1964, K7 had raised her own record six times to a speed of 276.30 mph. All these records were set using a Metro-Vickers "Beryl" turbo-jet engine, although various modifications were incorporated into the hull and sponsons during this time.
1964 Water Speed Record Bluebird K7
With the intention of surpassing the 300 mph mark, Campbell purchased a Bristol-Siddeley "Orpheus" turbo-jet engine and in late 1966, K7 was taken once more to Coniston Water in the English Lake District.
1967 Final Record Attempt Bluebird K7
On the morning of the 4th January 1967, Campbell made a one-way run of 297 mph and was travelling at about 320 mph on the return run when the boat became airborne, somersaulted and crashed back into the water. The boat was destroyed and Campbell was killed. Six months later, America regained the record when Lee Taylor's "Hustler" returned an average speed of 285 mph.
04/01/2022 4:44 pm
Here's a pic of the 1958 Jaguar XK150 with the K7. The Oxford model would look great next to the Touchwood - I really like the engine detail and wish more LSR replicas had lift off panels like this.
Topic starter
04/01/2022 8:38 pm
I note that the great picture you have here is of the XK150 with the 1964 record K7.
The day of his death on Coniston Water, Donald Campbell drove his Jaguar E-Type to the lake. Here is a picture. This car was also in Bluebird blue but this picture does not show that. Oxford have made a 1/76 model but so far no 1/43. Do you know of any other?
There is what I think is a faked image series of Campbell E-Types with the registration DC7 which was on the XK150. His E-Type registration was GLM37C.
The Oxford 1/76 model.
John Kuvakas and John Kuvakas reacted
05/01/2022 10:46 am
The c;osest I come is a Spark in Opalescent Blue but with a different registration.
David Green and David Green reacted