I was saddened by the moment it began to sink, I would have expected float testing to be done before it even got out of its build pen. However it brought back childhood memories of that fateful day we lost Donald. I sincerely hope to see more of this boat and it would be glorious to see the record brought back in his honour!
Intellectual property? What a load of sanctimonious bollocks. Machines can be copied. George Beale builds perfect replicas of racing motorcycles, An industry builds replica racing cars. Lost warplanes are rebuilt and built from scratch .We need more of these projects to allow anybody who is interested to see what these historic machines look like, sound like, smell like and go like. All strength to the K777 team's elbows. And Gina and the K7 team good luck to them. But come on, smile chaps!
exactly my point, 1967 there was a boat that did 300 as it plained across the water, 48 years later they build another one that won't even float, its nothing short of an embarrassment
Actually the original sank in lake Mead in 1955 in much the same way. Also, the original proved extremely difficult to get up on the plane. Campbell was forced to add 170lbs of ballast to the rear of the boat in late 1966 to overcome this problem - a modification that may have contributed to the accident.
They had filled the sponsons and as much of the hull as practical with foam buoyancy - perhaps a reasonable compromise if you insist on sticking to a 60 year-old design - which is why she didn't sink completely. They had it running again the next day so not much lost it seems. At least part of the justification for building K777 seems to have been as a practice mule for the guy who will eventually pilot the real K7 on proving runs once she is rebuilt. It seems K7 will have all the failings she had as per 7am, 4th Jan. '67 (there is even debate about which pre-crash dents will be preserved/replicated!) so perhaps a 'warts and all' replica is what they need.
When I first saw the K777 I had mixed feelings about it ,probably like a lot of other people. Can any of us say what Donald would think about it ? I have always been a huge fan of Donald Campbell, he was the last real British hero in my opinion . I have been eagerly awaiting the return of Bluebird to Coniston for her final run for a very long time . Bluebird will not be used for world records anymore so maybe we need the likes of the k777 to bring the water speed record home for Donald ?
Not to be a wet blanket, but, if the plan is to operate the replica at speed, has thought been given to a design change that would lessen the chance of a repetition of the accident, which cost Donald Campbell his life?
It's sad that this happened, perhaps there is something trying to remind people to not use a replica of a faulty dezign. I don't know why no one has thought of putting hydrofoils onto these record boats, wouldn't that be much safer at high speed?
Bluebird is NOT a faulty design, never has been. The reason the extra weight had to be added into the stern of the original K7 is because it was designed to use the old and heavy Beryl engine. When fitted with the Orpheus which was lighter, it screwed up the trim of the boat and she dug in at the bow. I suspect the same thing happened here. If they built a 100% replica then the CofG would be in the same place, also, Donald Campbell was not a small man and even the weight of the driver / pilot would make a difference.
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I was saddened by the moment it began to sink, I would have expected float testing to be done before it even got out of its build pen. However it brought back childhood memories of that fateful day we lost Donald. I sincerely hope to see more of this boat and it would be glorious to see the record brought back in his honour!
Excellent replica - Great to see this as a working boat rather than a model or museum piece!
Putting the K777 v K7 argument aside for a min I for one was quite gutted when it started to sink.
Intellectual property? What a load of sanctimonious bollocks. Machines can be copied. George Beale builds perfect replicas of racing motorcycles, An industry builds replica racing cars. Lost warplanes are rebuilt and built from scratch .We need more of these projects to allow anybody who is interested to see what these historic machines look like, sound like, smell like and go like. All strength to the K777 team's elbows. And Gina and the K7 team good luck to them. But come on, smile chaps!
Wow how much did that cost!
WTF ?--I HAD NO IDEA IT HAD EVEN BEEN ON THE WATER--AND IN 2011 ??? NOT A GOOD RESULT, BUT --WHY NO NEWS OF IT IN THE MEDIA ?????????????????????
Is that the Blue Bird that was in the film across the lake
This is the K777 built on the design of the K7 that is now back on the water being tested on Loch Fad in Scotland 👍
I dont think he was throttling up fast enough, it needs to plane or its just digging itself deeper in the water :D
+Lee Thomas the original did plane didn't dig in. First was back in 1967 UK
exactly my point, 1967 there was a boat that did 300 as it plained across the water, 48 years later they build another one that won't even float, its nothing short of an embarrassment
Actually the original sank in lake Mead in 1955 in much the same way. Also, the original proved extremely difficult to get up on the plane. Campbell was forced to add 170lbs of ballast to the rear of the boat in late 1966 to overcome this problem - a modification that may have contributed to the accident.
yea but as i explained before, that was 50 years ago, with todays technology you'd think they would have found a way around it
They had filled the sponsons and as much of the hull as practical with foam buoyancy - perhaps a reasonable compromise if you insist on sticking to a 60 year-old design - which is why she didn't sink completely. They had it running again the next day so not much lost it seems.
At least part of the justification for building K777 seems to have been as a practice mule for the guy who will eventually pilot the real K7 on proving runs once she is rebuilt. It seems K7 will have all the failings she had as per 7am, 4th Jan. '67 (there is even debate about which pre-crash dents will be preserved/replicated!) so perhaps a 'warts and all' replica is what they need.
also for those of you who say the canbell family were not impressed then you are wrong because they even visited the replica and they liked it
When I first saw the K777 I had mixed feelings about it ,probably like a lot of other people. Can any of us say what Donald would think about it ? I have always been a huge fan of Donald Campbell, he was the last real British hero in my opinion . I have been eagerly awaiting the return of Bluebird to Coniston for her final run for a very long time . Bluebird will not be used for world records anymore so maybe we need the likes of the k777 to bring the water speed record home for Donald ?
Not to be a wet blanket, but, if the plan is to operate the replica at speed, has thought been given to a design change that would lessen the chance of a repetition of the accident, which cost Donald Campbell his life?
It's sad that this happened, perhaps there is something trying to remind people to not use a replica of a faulty dezign. I don't know why no one has thought of putting hydrofoils onto these record boats, wouldn't that be much safer at high speed?
Bluebird is NOT a faulty design, never has been. The reason the extra weight had to be added into the stern of the original K7 is because it was designed to use the old and heavy Beryl engine. When fitted with the Orpheus which was lighter, it screwed up the trim of the boat and she dug in at the bow. I suspect the same thing happened here. If they built a 100% replica then the CofG would be in the same place, also, Donald Campbell was not a small man and even the weight of the driver / pilot would make a difference.
Just got to get her up onto the plane!
A Donald Campbell curse
Oh dear! Was it designed and built by Lotus cars Ltd.
Congrats. U win the A-Hole comment on the blog.
Croc o shite!
well you do not have any respect for the grave they are only trying to honor him the only way they can
Nothing but bad luck
What a bunch of clueless muppets on the support boats
.