Campbell's Bluebird (and Fairey Barracuda, too!

[Bluebird Mike]

AND we've finally announced Bluebird's new pilot and also made it into the online Daily Mail today-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...-wreckage.html

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-...01012315863323

Hope everyone enjoys the documentary tonight!

[Bluebird Mike]

Latest You Tube clip now online-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kre1w7TthFg

[Black Knight]

Not abad show, disappointed in the cgi of the last run, you can clearly see K7 yaws slightly before hitting the lake in the real movie footage so why the cgi shows her roll onto her side before hitting I don't know & I think Donald would turn in his grave at him wearing a Russian flying helmet too lol

[Bluebird Mike]

K7 landed on her left hand side, having rolled such at the last moment. The CG shows her rolling left way too early, as she loops, which IS a mistake. Otherwise, they got how she broke up spot on, which was the point of the graphic, and we were very pleased with the programme, though I was mortified at seeing myself talking on the telly for the first time!

[Bluebird Mike]

As a few people on or from here have asked me in the past, I'm pleased to say that you'll now find a fledgling gallery on the main BBP website.

Re. the depiction of the boat impacting the water on it's left hand side, there will be a full piece on this complete with original archive video evidence coming soon too.

[ZRX61]

It was working mid week...

[Scott Marlee]

hows the project going Mike, we @ NEAM are wishing you all well, hopefully you can get an update out for us soon, maybe pop down to see us one weekend when you aren't busy

scott

[Bluebird Mike]

I thought those who may not be regular followers of ours might like to see how the boat is looking currently- many other images also in our online gallery. There's more to her than even this shot shows, as the intake structure that sits behind the cockpit is very well advanced, and the nose is mostly there too.

[TonyT]

See the advert in flypast for all of those Orpheus engines?

[Bluebird Mike]

Nope?

[TonyT]

There is a half page advert for several orpheus engines, the address is italy, they are in good condition, no paperwork, but in the pressurised transport stands, you know, the metal splittable tube ones.... they look good from the picture and by the blurb, not one, but several engines being offered. Possibly ex Ginos?

[BluebirdBill]

Hi Guys,

Yes - seen them and had comm's with the owners but unfortunately they're Orph 800 engines and not suitable for our application. We have a couple of good 101s but if anyone can find us a 701 we'll be your new best friend.

[Jon H]

Afraid the EGT gauge I donated was probably the extent of the parts I have that you need!

Talking of which did you ever find the correct one?

Jon

[Bluebird Mike]

We never did find THE one, but I still reckon that was every bit as much a pre-production item as the aircraft it came out of. However, we have a good stock of very close items and the ability to get them made just-right, so mustn't grumble!

[Bluebird Mike]

Our gallery-

http://bluebirdproject.com/photo/thumbnails.php?album=1

[Dr. John Smith]

Hello

Just a heads up to give notice that The History Channel is screening a documentary about Donald Campbell and Bluebird K-7:

"In 1967 Donald Campbell died a dramatic and very public death – crashing his Bluebird boat at 300mph in a freezing Lake District. This iconic image profoundly shocked a nation more used to Campbell as the glamorous speed king of the ‘50s, smashing record after record on water and land.

But behind this image lies a compelling tale of even greater bravery and sacrifice...

For Campbell was a complex and vulnerable man, battling a numbing fear, the memory of his father, a tumultuous private life and increasingly struggling for relevance in the modern world.

With access to Campbell’s own unseen cine footage, and interviews with his nearest and dearest, Bluebird: The Curse Of Campbell can finally unmask the real Donald Campbell - a man who, alone in the cockpit of Bluebird and starting his final run on Coniston Water, had nowhere else to turn.

Can you catch the Bluebird? Of course you can!

Watch Bluebird: The Curse of Campbell Sunday 3 July at 10pm"

Link the the show's page at http://www.history.co.uk/shows/blueb...ell/about.html

By the way - although I've only seen a brief clip/trailer so far - this appears to be NOT the documentary about Donald Campbell and Bluebird K7 that Sky News screened last Christmas

[Bluebird Mike]

You are right- this is not the same documentary, and it was not made with any assistance from The Bluebird Project.

[Bluebird Mike]

Our latest video is now live-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gd1fpKTjMQ

[Bluebird Mike]

Here's one for you parts experts- when cleaned, this little fellow revealed a few markings; do these mean anything to anyone? The part is three quarters of an inch in diameter, and an inch high. I've got this one but need another one, and while one can easily be machined, presumably the part No.s mean it came from somewhere..?

[Bruce]

VGS - Vickers General Spares.

It will be a standard Vickers part, probably used in a variety of aircraft. Somewhere, there will be a Vickers catalogue that lists them all. It might even tell you what they were fitted to.



Bruce

[Bluebird Mike]

How interesting! Thanks Bruce. Can anyone help any further then?

[chumpy]

The Vickers archive at Brooklands holds copies of most of the VGS drawings.

Their resources and time are rather limited, the archive only open on Tuesday's. A polite request to Albert the guy in charge of the archive, will probably result in a copy being made available.

...Sorry I do not have the telephone number to hand.

Chumpy.

[Bluebird Mike]

Thanks for that. I expect we'll just get a duplicate part machined, but it's all fascinating stuff, and if anyone recognises the part- or even has one! -we'd love to hear from you.

[Air Ministry]

I wonder if an AGS eyebolt of similar size/length/strength could be substituted?

And no, it's not me advertising, although I have a few odd ones lying around and would be happy to donate one if suitable.

[TonyT]

similar to Piper door ones, would have to measure it though

[Bluebird Mike]

Very kind of y'all, though I'd need to have an exact visual match as there are a pair of these eyebolt things sticking out the top of the boat, redundant from having held heaven knows what in the past. We've got this one, and the other was taken by the crash. As I said, no bother to get an exact copy machined, but if anyone IDs the original part type and can source one, then all the better.

[paulmcmillan]

I see both mgazines have photos of the Barracuda wreckage laid out... Lots of large bits there, but equally some large bits missing!

[XM172]

I too was there by the Lakeside on 04 Jan 67 holding my Dads hand and I remember the atmosphere of great anticipation and the gloom that followed!

Cant wait to see her again ...

[Bluebird Mike]

Hi Everyone, damage limitation time here- some of you may have seen an article in the Daily Mirror today proclaiming that Bluebird has been finished and is being launched on Coniston this week.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

What is being launched this week is a semi-REPLICA. This is NOT endorsed by the Campbell family, and has no connections with us. The real Bluebird K7 remains deep in painstaking rebuild.

Please spread the word!

[paul178]

Please would you post a link to todays article. I can then put it on the forums I belong to along with your remarks.

Thanks

Paul