The legendary Bluebird craft of Donald Campbell is making a return to the Lake District, several decades after its pilot died in a fatal accident on Coniston Water. In the year 1967, Mr. Campbell was pushing his water-speed record past 300 mph (480 km/h) when Bluebird flip-flopped. However, the hydroplane’s wreckage was recovered back in 2001 and restored by engineer Bill Smith from Tyneside. Following a legal dispute, the craft is being handed over to Coniston’s Ruskin Museum.
Last month, it was announced that Mr. Smith had given up his claim over the craft. The machine was collected from North Shields, and it is expected to reach Coniston at 16:00GMT. Bluebird was reconstructed in 2018 and successfully took to the water again in Scotland. This marked a significant win for Mr. Smith, who vowed to continue “fighting to the death” over what he said was his stake in the craft.
Jeff Carroll, the vice-chair of the museum’s trustees, has expressed his delight over the return of Bluebird, saying it is a momentous day. He further said, “It means that everybody can actually come and look at Bluebird and see her in all her glory. It will mean my mission accomplished, for the moment.” Mr. Carroll also thanked Mr. Smith and his team of volunteers who contributed to the restoration of the craft.
Donald Campbell set seven water-speed world records between 1955 and 1964, including four on Coniston Water. Bluebird somersaulted on January 4, 1967, when Mr. Campbell was attempting to smash his mark of 276 mph. The wreckage was raised by Bill Smith’s dive team on March 8, 2001, with Mr. Campbell’s body retrieved on May 28. Donald Campbell’s daughter, Gina, will be present at Coniston for the arrival of Bluebird, where several onlookers are expected to gather
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