New pilot named for Bluebird’s re-entry to water

The restored Bluebird K7, formerly associated with Donald Campbell, will be piloted by the son of a world-record holder upon its return to the water. The hydroplane was destroyed in 1967 when Campbell crashed in the Lake District while attempting to exceed his own water speed record of 300mph (480km/h). After its recovery from the bottom of Coniston Water 34 years later, a team of engineers on Tyneside undertook its reconstruction. Following an extended ownership dispute, the vessel was transferred to the Ruskin Museum. Museum officials have now stated that Australian Dave Warby, son of the late Ken Warby, a former water speed world-record holder, will be at the controls when it returns to the lake in 2026. Mr. Warby, who is currently a contender for the world water speed record, characterized the opportunity as a “tremendous honour”. Referring to Bluebird as “the most iconic water speed record boat in the world,” he mentioned that its achievements with Campbell at the helm had provided the “inspiration” for his father to establish his own world records in 1977 and 1978. His subsequent record of 317mph (510km/h) remains unbroken. RAF Flt Lt David-John Gibbs, from Grantham, Lincolnshire, has been named as Mr. Warby’s reserve pilot. Flt Lt Gibbs is also the designated pilot for the Longbow speed record attempt, which is being led by Dave Aldred. Two Orpheus jet engines are scheduled for refurbishment as part of the efforts to make Bluebird operational once more. Having set seven world water speed records between 1955 and 1964, its most recent appearance on water was in 2018 at Loch Fad, on Scotland’s Isle of Bute, after a restoration spearheaded by North Shields engineer Bill Smith. A legal dispute subsequently arose when Mr. Smith asserted partial ownership, citing the work he and his Bluebird Project (BBP) team had performed. Under the settlement reached in January, at which point he relinquished his claim, Mr. Smith paid £25,000 towards the Ruskin Museum’s legal expenses. It was additionally stipulated that he would have no “further right, title or interest” in the craft. Nonetheless, since that time, the BBP’s social media account has consistently urged the museum to set aside those terms and engage the group’s volunteers to assist with maintenance and any future operations. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.