Another step forward has been taken in a project to bring a piece of speed history back to life.
Donald Campbell’s legendary hydroplane, Bluebird K7, has been taken away from the Ruskin Museum in Coniston and has been transported to The Aircraft Heritage Trust at St Athan in South Wales.
There, a team led by Peter Walker will work to install the craft’s Number 1 engine and systems which will be fitted in preparation for the hydroplane’s return to Coniston Water in 2026.
K7 will be away from the museum for around a month and is due back on display from 10am on Sunday March 23, Donald’s birthday.
The museum said Bluebird K7 had two of the famous 101 Orpheus engines with number 2 engine already tested.
Number 1 engine is being overhauled although is said to be like new and will be tested outside of the boat before being fitted into the hull.
An application to the Lake District National Park Authority will be made to allow the event to take place.
“We have some of the most experienced engineers in the world working on the engines and K7, and safety above all else, will always be paramount to us,” the museum said in a statement on Facebook.
Bill Smith, who recovered the record-breaking vessel and Mr Campbell’s body in 2001 from Coniston Water, where they had lain since the fatal crash on January 4 1967.
Mr Smith has kept the boat since then, but in 2006, Mr Campbell’s family gifted the Bluebird to the Coniston Institute and the Ruskin Museum.
The museum, Mr Smith and the Campbell family have been in talks over possession of the boat, but they broke down in 2019.
Mr Smith had plans to run the boat on Loch Fad on the Isle of Bute, but the museum said he did not have its permission to use its property in that way.
