Sir Malcolm Campbell – Bluebird K4 ‘slipper’

‘Towards a goal’ by Arthur Benjamins

The Bluebird K4 propeller driven hydroplane of Sir Malcolm Campbell was converted to a pure thrust jet hydroplane by swapping the Rolls Royce ‘R’ type engine for a deHavilland Goblin ll turbojet in 1947. This changed the shape of the upper deck considerably and hence the nickname of the ‘slipper’. However subsequent trials with the craft approaching 90mph on Coniston Water showed the craft to be unstable following the conversion and she was later converted back to propeller driven. If readers have a copyright photo of the K4 slipper they wish to contribute to this history please contact us and we will be pleased to include it herein.

John R Cobb – Crusader K6

‘A September Song’ by Arthur Benjamins

John Cobb had broken the land speed record in a car designed by Reid Railton and had set up a record of 397 mph (oin fact this record stood until 1964 when Donald Campbell broke it in the Proteus Bluebird). Like Segrave and Campbell before Cobb was lured into the pursuit of higher speeds on water. His hydroplane Crusader was also designed by Reid Railton and built by Vospers under Peter DuCane. It was the first craft designed specifically for jet power and to overcome the major limitations of the Ventnor configuration. It was built using seaplane technology and materials with a wooden hull and metal components for additional strength. The craft consisted of two planning surfaces aft, outrigged on floats, with only one narrow beamed planning surface fore tapering to a point. This design reduced lift to a minimum by removing the kite area of the front deck, nearly cancelling it out altogether by moving the centre of pressure aft of the centre of gravity. Crusader’s all up weight was 6,500 lbs. and the propulsion unit was a de Havilland Ghost turbo‐jet engine developing 5’000 lbs. thrust.

Crusader Illustration – Architech

Loch Ness ‐ Monday September 29th. At 11 am conditions were okay and all concerned went to their stations again. 15 minutes was allowed for various washes to die down and then Crusader was off. Crusader approached the measured distance, running beautifully at extremely high speed, before she hit a system of waves with a crack that echoed around the steep walls of the Loch. From the fact that the average speed of 206.89 mph was recorded for the run and that for a substantial part of the second half mile, the engine was cut or at very much reduced power, the speed was approx. between 240 ‐ 250 mph, at the stage when the waves were met.

Crusader at Speed – Architech

Cobb sensing that all was not well lifted his foot from the throttle to find the craft travelling at the same speed. Having passed the first ‘hump’ Cobb re‐applied the throttle. The first impact with the wave altered the form of the front planing shoe so that when Crusader hit the second wave the craft pitched down further than before and Cobb lifted his foot off the throttle once again, whilst Crusader still held her speed, building up a gradually increasing instability or ‘porpoising’ culminating in the nose of the craft diving‐ The craft disintegrated and Cobb was killed as a result of the injuries sustained. If readers have a copyright photo of the Crusader they wish to contribute to this history please contact us and we will be pleased to include it herein.

credit Sally Joslin through Steve Holter

credit Sally Joslin through Steve Holter

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JP Cages
S & C Thermofluids
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Blackpool Thunder Card Club
Raptor
Becker
Raptor
Willans
IS-Motorsport
Manchester Galvanizing
Granthams Signs
Advanced Fuel Systems
Avon Stainless Fasteners
Manchester Metrology
Britlift
Task Pro
Robins Timber
Hindle Controls
4QD
Peak Dynamics
Blackburns Metals
AkzoNobel
ESAB
JP Cages
Swansea University
HMG Paints
Nadella
John W. Laycock
Alansons
WEC Training Academy
TT Electronics
Colan Australia
Marineware
Below Decks
TDP Outdoor Furniture
Accu
Lifting Equipment Store
Kee Safety Group
SGS Gases
Blackpool Thunder Card Club
Trend
Progress Concepts
Becker
Albright International
Shepherds
Yuasa UK
West System ∞ Wessex Resins
County Battery
Air Total
Tiga Wood
AeroDOT
S & C Thermofluids
Performance Engineered Solutions
Capricorn Eco Timber
Aximo Design
Fibermax
HEINZMANN
Blackpool and The Fylde College
RS Components
Sealey
Raceparts
Norson Design
International
Raptor
Willans
IS-Motorsport
Manchester Galvanizing
Granthams Signs
Advanced Fuel Systems
Avon Stainless Fasteners
Manchester Metrology
Accu
Blackpool Thunder Card Club
Kee Safety Group
Marineware
Fibermax
TT Electronics
Avon Stainless Fasteners
Alansons
Shepherds
Blackburns Metals
Granthams Signs
Tiga Wood
Robins Timber
Performance Engineered Solutions
HMG Paints
ESAB
Yuasa UK
Peak Dynamics
Raptor
Advanced Fuel Systems
4QD
Albright International
Lifting Equipment Store
Nadella
Willans
Manchester Metrology
Sealey
Colan Australia
Norson Design
IS-Motorsport
SGS Gases
Swansea University
Raceparts
Becker
WEC Training Academy
AkzoNobel
County Battery
TDP Outdoor Furniture
Hindle Controls
Britlift
Below Decks
International
JP Cages
Progress Concepts
John W. Laycock
Manchester Galvanizing
RS Components
Air Total
Blackpool and The Fylde College
Trend
Capricorn Eco Timber
AeroDOT
S & C Thermofluids
Aximo Design
Task Pro
HEINZMANN
West System ∞ Wessex Resins
Accu
Blackpool Thunder Card Club
Kee Safety Group
Marineware
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