Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 Returns to Coniston Water After 1967 Fatal Crash

Donald Campbell’s restored hydroplane Bluebird K7 returned to Coniston Water for the first time since the fatal crash on 4 January 1967, when the jet-engined craft somersaulted as Campbell attempted to push his world speed record past 300mph.

“- Published Donald Campbell's restored Bluebird craft has been fired up on Coniston Water for the first time since the daredevil pilot's fatal crash on the lake almost 60 years ago”

BBC

At about 14:15 BST, the restored craft was lowered into the water ahead of safety checks on the first day of a week-long event, and about 90 minutes later the jet engine was fired up.

BBC

The BBC said the week-long event is set to see several runs at up to 150mph (240km/h), with Australian Dave Warby at the controls.

The BBC also said the week’s events are intended to mark what will be the 70th anniversary of Donald setting the first of his records on the lake in September 1956, when he reached 225.63mph on 19 September 1956.

In the same return, Powerboat News described the first day of the Bluebird K7 Festival (11-17 May) as being about getting the boat safely back on Coniston Water after 59 years, with no taxiing, no planing, and no run down the measured course.

Gina Campbell said she was "blown away" to see Bluebird running on the lake once more, adding, "To see it and hear it… I never thought I'd live to see the day."

Donald’s nephew Don Wales described the moment as "utterly magnificent," saying, "You can feel the love and the warmth of people here wanting to see it."

Indy100

The BBC reported that Warby, son of the late Ken Warby MBE who set the current water speed record of 317.59mph (511.11 km/h) in 1978, was at the controls with Campbell’s teddy bear mascot Mr Whoppit in the cockpit.

Westmorland Gazette said Dave Warby visited Coniston Water on Friday (February 20) ahead of the May run, and quoted Warby describing the trip as "an emotional roller coaster" after visiting the UK for the first time.

The same Westmorland Gazette report said the festival, organised by The Ruskin Museum, will celebrate the life and achievements of Donald Campbell and his Bluebird hydroplane between May 11 and May 17 at Coniston Water.

The BBC said the week’s events are intended to mark the 70th anniversary of Donald setting the first of his records on the lake in September 1956, and it also noted that Campbell set seven water speed world records piloting Bluebird, including four on Coniston Water, between 1955 and 1964.

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Lancashire Evening Post

Powerboat News said higher-speed demonstration runs of up to around 150 mph are planned for the rest of the week as conditions allow, and it described the event as spread across seven days because no single day of calm water is guaranteed.

The BBC reported that recent months saw a replacement engine installed and checks on electrical and hydraulic systems, and it said the craft last ran almost eight years ago on Scotland’s Isle of Bute.

It also said the Ruskin Museum issued legal proceedings in 2023 following what it described as "several years of trying to persuade Mr Smith and his organisation to honour the original agreement" to bring K7 back to Coniston.

In the same context, BBC said Smith eventually relinquished his part-ownership claim and agreed to pay £25,000 towards the museum's legal costs, while Jeff Carroll said the return marked the "next chapter" in the machine's story.