Bluebird K7 facts for kids
Bluebird K7 was a very special boat built for Donald Campbell. Its main goal was to break the World Water Speed Record. Bluebird was a type of boat called a hydroplane. This means it was designed to skim over the top of the water, rather than pushing through it like a normal boat.
Bluebird K7 was powered by a powerful jet engine. It set new world water speed records seven times! Its fastest speed was an amazing 276 mph (445 km/h). Sadly, Bluebird K7 was destroyed in 1967. This happened when Donald Campbell tried to set an eighth record, aiming to go faster than 300 mph (480 km/h) on Coniston Water.
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How Was Bluebird K7 Designed?
Before Bluebird K7, Donald Campbell used his father's boat, Bluebird K4. He tried to set new records with it. However, Bluebird K4 broke apart. After this, Donald had a new idea. He wanted a jet-powered hydroplane. This new boat would try to beat the American propeller hydroplane called Slo-mo-shun.
Ken and Lewis Norris were the designers and builders of K7. They based their work on Donald's ideas. K7 was a "three-point hydroplane." This means that when it went fast, the boat only touched the water in three places. One point was near the back of the boat. The other two points were at the back of its sponsons. Sponsons are like floats on each side of the boat, near the front.
The boat was built using aluminium over a strong steel frame. At first, it had a smaller turbojet engine. The name K7 came from a special rating given to the boat by Lloyd's of London.
What Records Did Bluebird K7 Break?
Donald Campbell set seven world water speed records in Bluebird K7. These records were achieved between 1955 and 1964:
- 23 July 1955: 202 mph (324 km/h), set at Ullswater in England.
- 1955: 216 mph (348 km/h).
- 1956: 225 mph (362 km/h).
- 1957: 239 mph (385 km/h).
- 1958: 248 mph (399 km/h).
- 1959: 260 mph (420 km/h).
- 31 December 1964: 276 mph (445 km/h), set at Dumbleyung Lake in Australia.
What Happened to Bluebird K7?
In 1966, Donald Campbell decided he wanted Bluebird to go even faster. He aimed to break the 300 mph (480 km/h) barrier. Bluebird's original engine was not powerful enough for this speed. So, it was replaced with a stronger Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engine. This engine came from an old fighter jet.
Many other changes were made to the boat. A tail fin from the fighter jet was added to Bluebird's rear. The cover over the cockpit was changed to help the boat cut through the air more easily. The floats at the front were also updated.
Testing the New Bluebird
Bluebird was taken to Coniston Water for testing in 1966. The tests did not go smoothly. The weather was too bad to test the boat while it was moving. Instead, it was tied down and tested without moving. During one engine test, it sucked in too much air. This caused parts of the boat to break. The broken parts then damaged the engine itself. This meant the entire engine had to be replaced again.
By the end of November, the weather improved enough for some test runs. However, the boat's speed was much lower than its old records. The fuel pumps could not send enough fuel to the engine. This stopped it from running at full speed. The problem was fixed by adding a second fuel pump.
The Final Record Attempt
On January 4, 1967, all the problems seemed fixed. The weather was good, and Campbell decided to try and break the speed record. For a world record to be official, a boat must make two full-speed runs. These runs are timed by independent people. The official speed is the average speed of the two runs.
On Bluebird's first run, its speed was 297.6 mph (478.9 km/h). This was fast enough for a new record. But it was not quite as fast as Campbell wanted. To set a record over 300 mph, the second run would need to be 302.5 mph or faster.
The original plan was for Bluebird to stop at the far end of the lake. It would refuel from another boat waiting there. Taking time to refuel would also let the lake's water settle down after the first run. However, on the actual record attempt, Campbell decided not to refuel. He started his second run right away. Why he did this is still unknown.
The Crash
At the start of the second run, Bluebird was going over 320 mph (510 km/h). It looked like it would easily break the 300 mph target. But as the boat sped along the lake, it started "tramping." This means it was rocking from side to side. Bluebird then hit a wave. This wave was made by its own first run. The boat spun out of the water. When it hit the water again, it broke into many pieces and sank. Donald Campbell was killed in the crash. His teddy bear mascot was found floating in the lake later. But Campbell's body could not be found at that time.
How Was Bluebird K7 Recovered?
In 2001, a diver named Bill Smith led a salvage team. They found Bluebird K7 at the bottom of Coniston Water. Later, they lifted the wreck back to dry land. The wreck was carefully taken apart to prevent it from rusting. Now, it is being put back together again. There was a lot of damage from the crash, but it can all be repaired. Bill Smith also found a new engine for Bluebird. He hopes to get the boat working again.
Donald Campbell's body was also found in 2001. He was buried on September 12, 2001, in Coniston cemetery.
On December 7, 2006, Gina Campbell, Donald's daughter, officially gave the recovered Bluebird K7 wreckage to the Ruskin Museum in Coniston. This was done on behalf of the Campbell Family Heritage Trust. Bill Smith is organizing the boat's restoration. The goal is to rebuild K7 to be able to run again, just like it was on January 4, 1967. Gina Campbell said she wanted to "secure the future of Bluebird for the people of Coniston, the Ruskin Museum and the people of the world."
Images for kids
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Bluebird K7, in its most successful form, on display at the Goodwood Motor Racing circuit in July 1960.
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K7's Lloyds Unlimited Hydroplane registration
See also
In Spanish: Bluebird K7 para niños
