Bluebird: The Afterlife

Speed machine Bluebird K7 "died" more than fifty years ago. She and her pilot Donald Campbell were supposed to rest forever in darkness on the bed of a lake in Cumbria's Lake District. But Bluebird rose from the dead. Thanks to an audacious plan to find, raise and rebuild her she thrilled locals and tourists on the Isle of Bute in Scotland where she has been relaunched.

[luvit]

Can't believe how emotional this video made me, what a machine and what a man.

[BruceBoschek]

I had the great fortune to meet Donald Campbell at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1960 and to speak with him for a couple of hours while he was waiting for the Bluebird Proteus CN7 to be prepared. The crash was two days later after I had left for Yellowstone. I was only 21 years old, but was thrilled to have met this fearless adventurer and refined gentleman. I'm very pleased to see the K7 back in action. Thanks to everyone involved, also for this excellent reportage.

[preteristlab-endtimes]

As a 13 year old Aussie boy in earth-bound 1966 Donald Campbell was the Boy's Own British hero on land and water. I can still remember seeing the crash on the evening news and weeping. Donald Campbell gave us commonwealth-country boys the power to dream and a sense of derring-do, and a warm sense of pride in queen and country - England. RIP Donald Campbell.

[ianlambert]

Fabulous! I never thought this was possible. I watched her go on that fateful day in 1967, and went home to Preston feeling a bit sick that had just seen a man killed.

[thevmanvj]

To the Bluebird Project team...well done!! She looks magnificent...even at only 150 mph. Long live BLUEBIRD K-7... and long live her legend!

[jeanhoward]

Remember the day Bluebird crashed as though it was yesterday. We are keen water skiers in those days and spent every weekend on Coniston Water with our friends.
We actually got ‘up close and personal’ with this beautiful craft at the jetty where she was moored.
Watched the speed record attempt with so much anticipation. Anticipation that turned to disbelief and grief when we saw her ‘flip’
RIP Sir Donald! Your were a true hero!!

[jnichols]

Amazing. When it was raised, I never expected to be more than a wrecked museum exhibit dedicated to Campbell. Campbell's family knew how much Bluebird meant to him and aproved of this being rebuilt and to take to the water again. Donald Campbell would be proud.

[carlocaroni]

i was 12yo that night when the TV showed the crash and i cried..and now i'm cryng again.thanks, guys, and thanks.Donald Campbell.so long.

[barryrogoff]

I'm American and I've considered the Campbells and their Bluebirds to be legends of motorsport for as long as I can remember. There's a mystique that surrounds them as men driven to accomplish something unforgettable no matter the cost. To see Bluebird K7 come back to life is better than anything I could have imagined and is also the work of a man driven to accomplish something unforgettable no matter the cost.

[philrothwell]

Everything about this machine and the team makes me proud to be British

[jeanette]

I was lucky enough to have had Sir Donald lift me into the cockpit of the car "Bluebird" at the Melbourne Motor Show some years before his death in 1967. I was on school holidays, working at the General Store in Hepburn Springs when the morning paper (The Sun) was delivered, with pictures of his fatal boat accident splashed across the front page. So good to see Bluebird afloat again, and something of the great era of record breakers died with him that day in 1967.

[waldostakes]

MAGNIFICENT I have tears into eyes. Cheers to the new Bluebird team from the United States.

[returnofthestrangers]

That's history visiting us right there, simply amazing! Heros never die

[fozzeBear-pi]

March 2024 I’m 44 and this has made me a bit emotional, what a machine, what fantastic volunteers and most of all SIR DONALD CAMBELL what a man an absolute legend, we just don’t do stuff like this it’s to “dangerous” bollox get it in there get it going and get it flat out !! R.i.P Sir Donald !!

[BoatingBiker]

He was a bit behind the boat but he handled it beautifully. Spectators can criticize from the safety of the grandstand. He brought the craft home, well done skip!

[jamesparsons]

I had the honour of visiting K7 in the Ruskin Museum today, coincidentally it’s the 23rd March 2024 today - Donald Campbell’s 103rd birthday. I met his daughter Gina and spent a considerable time looking at K7 in awe. Incredible and a genuine privilege.

[Cabinessance]

Wonderful shots of a truly historic event. Well done to the team who covered this event and produced this programme. Many thanks to all concerned for bringing "Bluebird" back. I was 15 when the crash happened. At school the next day it was all we talked about. We all knew we had lost a hero and a beautiful machine.

[smokineagle]

I was standing on the shore of Canandaigua lake with my Mother and Sister, early morning in the summer of 1957 and watched Campbell make his run on the lake. I was only 8 years old but I'll never forget the sound of that Jet engine spooling up and making the run. It was the most Awesome thing I had ever witnessed in my 8 years of life. The Bluebird was on display later at Roseland Park and I got to meet him. It was great to see the Bluebird rise again.

[michaelfozzard]

Cant believe ime seeing bluebird again and actually running is a credit to bill !what a lovely looking machine really well done mate I was born in 1960, bluebird was a spaceship in looks to us. Brilliant to see the real thing ime amazed

[doncampbell]

I'm very proud to keep the name alive.
Cheers
Donald Campbell, Australia