Here is another example, if I click on Read and Reply I get a 5 month old post!

Why, when I select the Blue box does it not open up on that message and the response to whatever it was that there person wanted to see?

I so wanted to be there in the worst way!

I have been watching the recent Bluebird activities on our local television news as it is being broadcast along with the local news programs.

The lake district and Lake Conniston is only just over an hour away from where we live, but the local news has suggested that the town is closed, although the television coverage does show several interested people who have been waiting alongside the launch area for several hours, the site seems to be far from being over-crowded, and there must be plenty of usable "vantage points" all around the lake that could be used to some advantage.

The local weather has taken turn for the worse today and the forecast is for a few days of colder weather. This may discourage some of those that were considering going to visit Lake Conniston this week, but it may also delay some of the fast running (that has not started yet).

Bob.

Thanks for posting Ed! I believe a 150mph run is hoped for by Friday or Saturday. Fingers crossed!
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Here is one I found on Facebook

https://fb.watch/H2zZfhuz4v/?fs=e

Yessir Ed! I downloaded them and they are beautiful!!!
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These appeared on Facebook, I think they are great

Yes John, I absolutely agree that this would have been a far better use for the money .

Bob.

Hi zooma

Have you had a look at the link which I put on here (on my last posting) regarding Thrust WSH - its quite enlightening. Although, you may already know about this. Wouldnt you think all of the money they spent to rebuild Bluebird could have been put towards this.

This would have been a better tribute to Donald Campbell and his family.

John

It would seem to me that Bluebird is not likely to ever run again safely at anything like its top speed........and maybe that is just as well?

Having the Bluebird reconstructed to look something like it did just before that fateful run may be the best option available, and it gives us all something that we can see and enjoy in the future.

If anyone really wanted to make a serious attempt at achieving a 300mph plus speed on water with a replica of the original Bluebird it could be engineered from new with the hindsight and advantages of todays engineering knowledge and materials ........but why bother?

The same amount of time, cash and effort could be spent making a totally different new design of water speed boat that could be even faster.........it probably wouldn't have anything like the appeal of Bluebird, or achieve anything like the support that the iconic original has.....but it could benefit from the interest that this sad Bluebird story has generated?

Bob.

Hi did not know anything about mr noble and team work to try to get water speed record back in uk great to hear but 400+ thats scary stuff the driver must big things betwern his legs .
Philuk👍

Thank you John.
It would be interesting fully understand Ms. Campbell's take on all of this now, especially after Mr. Smith's scathing video of last month.

I often wonder if the rebuilt K-7 should ever be put through the rigors of 300 mph + when we all know that the first leg on that fateful day was far in excess of that number. It seems to me that the "project" folks wanted that, but that may be a "reach" on my part. Perhaps the idea all along with the rebuild was to make exhibition runs at manageable speeds? IDK. Honestly, just sitting still, tis a beautiful thing.

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hi there, before we all start taking sides and saying who is to blame and try to point the finger. We need to have the full story, right from when Gina Campbell first gave the go-ahead for the wreck to be salvaged. What I will say is that Bill Smith is a business man and his prime aim in anything is to gain profits. I do not think there was much if any respect given by him towards Donald Campbell or his family.

What was evident to me and a big eye-opener as well was when a statement was made that Bluebird was heavily over engineered and it could have been made lighter. Did the person who made that statement not know that when Bluebird was first constructed - all calculations regarding the construction were done with a slide ruler and paper.

I have followed the full scenario of this - even to the televised Court Case, because I have a great interest in this.

My personal feelings is that Bluebird should have been left as was when found and stabilised and put on show. Because there are a few mock ups of Bluebird which were used for the film Across the Lake with the actor Anthony Hopkins. Before Donald Campbell made his fatal run, he did know Bluebird was at its limits, because he said if he had achieved 300 mph; he would have been in a better position for financing and developing a faster boat.

Each to his own thoughts, but, we do have to be careful what we believe.

Someone should get the two parties to talk to each other its a very important boat and needs finishing put your pride away and talk get bluebird back on the water👍
Philuk 👍

The issue is the Ruskin Museum are like a dog with a bone and do not have what it takes to get Bluebird completed. The Bluebird Project have already proved their credentials and unfortunately the crowd at the Ruskin museum are to stupid to see this.
The Ruskin museum claim that they will run Bluebird in May next year, this is a total fantasy as they do not know how.🤔

It would be nice if the Bluebird had been mechanically “sorted” before it went to London Ed.

I think the two parties concerned should start to work together and stop fighting a war that neither can win without the other.

Bob.

Bluebird was recently taken to London on display, that is when the picture was taken.

We can but hope…..and keep our fingers crossed as well 🤞

Bob.

100% agree Bob!!!!

It boggles the mind, but hope springs eternal with this one. But this video is as about as sobering a document as you can watch.

I was particularly stunned that even Donald's team HAD NOT FULLY SORTED FUEL PUMP issues in the marriage between the Orpheus engine and boat. The bilge was stuffed with rags that were drenched in AV gas! YOW!!!
Yet, I was pleasantly surprised that the folks at Rolls Royce rebuilt and reconditioned the original pump system to even better tolerances than the original.

And a special shout-out to the project team for reinventing the air-starter system for the Orpheus. The original starter system was only good for two cranks and then then the air canisters would have to be removed and recharged; a process that could take up to two hours. What a problem that must have been!
Sheesh!
...and then the hull attach points still needing to be sorted. Oh brother!

One can only hope the lawyers can sort this out and have the project team (and their parts!) welcomed into the museum's team!
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That video certainly gives a lot of information to consider.

As an “outsider” it would seem to me that the boat should have been left with these guys that rebuilt it and can fully understand the boat and re-engineer anything that is needed….because they can!

The museum should have come to some sort of agreement to “share” the boat for display to the public at agreed times, but take advantage of the knowledge and skills that these guys have to engineer the boat with the passion that they so clearly have for the craft.

It would appear to me that Bluebird will never run safely again without this sort of shared agreement, and the Campbell family are really lucky to have such knowledgable and enthusiastic support available to get this iconic craft running again and looked after properly.

They should ensure that this situation is not allowed to continue to deteriorate …or that they should risk loosing the interest of this dedicated group of engineers who really want to get the job finished PROPERLY.

Bob.

Thank you Ed! It's always an inspiration to see the restored K-7 making the rounds out of the Ruskin Museum at Coniston Water.
However, the "Bluebird Project" folks, who restored it, are more than a bit perturbed that the museum folks have not moved it along in order to get it running at full speed by a target date of May of 2026. The "Project" folks had it running some slow speed tests in 2019. (see below) Time will tell when all this will sort itself. Right now it's getting ugly, as the museum doesn't seem totally up to the task and the original project manager Bill Smith seems to be accusing them of such; while the Ruskin accuses him of withholding parts etc. Here is Bill Smith's posted video from a month ago. It's fascinating and dare I say...Oh brother.
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Smashing video of Donald Cambell’s Bluebird Ed - any idea where it was taken?

It looks nice and shiny like it is just after it was rebuilt.

Bob.