World Water Speed Record

[Dr. X]

Video of the trials on Coniston of a Bluebird replica boat, the K777...this is NOT the reconstructed K7:

It was in November of 2011 that they tried to run the K777 boat at Lake Coniston. Would like to see whether on smooth water and with enough time to properly balance the boat whether they can at least get it on plane.

[Dr. X]

When it first hit the water, Donald Campbell's Bluebird wanted to be a submarine. Considerable modifications and trimming were required before it would reliably get on plane.

[Dr. X]

In 1946, Sir Malcolm Campbell's pre-war Blue Bird was converted to turbojet. However, handling problems were never solved and Campbell was not successful in beating his own record of 141 mph.

[Dr. X]

More photos of Les Staudacher's Miss Stars and Stripes.

[Dr. X]

One of the many spray deflector combinations that were tried on Bluebird. This is the 1955 version with the forward spar still in its original location.

[Dr. X]

In this photo of Bluebird, a bubble canopy has been installed in place of the original faceted canopy but it still has the sponsons with a hump.

[Dr. X]

British Pathe newsreel of Sir Malcolm Campbell's jet hydroplane - MALCOLM CAMPBELL issue title PATHE PICTORIAL HUNTS FOR THRILLS - British Pathé

[Dr. X]

Donald Campbell's Bluebird - 1957

[Dr. X]

Donald Campbell's Bluebird - February 1955

[Dr. X]

Short film clip of 1955 Bluebird (before the forward spar was raised) - 31709424 - Stock Footage from BBC Motion Gallery

[Dr. X]

Drawing of the early Bluebird modified to raise the forward spar.

[Dr. X]

The British Pursuit project from 1980. This boat ended up as a total clusterfoxtrot and could not even get on plane. - Home - British Pursuit

[Hellbent]

In this photo of Bluebird, a bubble canopy has been installed in place of the original faceted canopy but it still has the sponsons with a hump.

Interesting. When I was looking at the land speed bluebird I found a pic with a bubble canopy next to the car...I figured they must have tried it at one point:

[Dr. X]

[Dr. X]

Interesting. When I was looking at the land speed bluebird I found a pic with a bubble canopy next to the car...I figured they must have tried it at one point:

They used the bubble canopy on the 1960 car, the one that crashed at Bonneville. However, in the January issue of Racecar Engineering there's a photo of the car with the aluminum canopy but with with a rounded windscreen instead of the flat panels.

[Hellbent]

When it first hit the water, Donald Campbell's Bluebird wanted to be a submarine. Considerable modifications and trimming were required before it would reliably get on plane.

I was surprised at how violent slowing the boat down seemed to be. As soon as you got off the thrust that nose would drop and throw a huge wall of water in front of the boat. On a few of the videos it looked like it was actually submarining a bit but there was so much water in the air you couldn't see it clearly.

[Hellbent]

I think we're well on our way to our own speed record attempt Doc. Land or sea....I'm not picky

[Dr. X]

When Rich Hallett built Lee Taylor's Hustler jet hydroplane, the design was an enlarged version of Hallett's Banzai dragboat.

[Dr. X]

Below is a photo showing the underside of the hull for the new boat the Warbys are building.

[Dr. X]

Below is the stern of the plug used to make the mold for the hull of the Rush, the new boat being built by Colin Johns.