I’ve never been in any service, but I tell you what, any mention of ‘Bomber’ in a documentary or whatever always makes me want to snap to attention and salute.

I can add some more info to this one- this documentary was shown on the BBC on a weekday morning as part of a series they called ‘Wings Week’ in the early 1980s. There was this Spitfire docu, an equally superb one about the Lancaster, the ‘Night Bombers’ colour film, one about the Shackleton (I think) and one about the Red Arrows. (John Blackwell was Red Leader in the film, I seem to remember)

The Spit, Lanc and Night Bombers progs were taped for me (on Betamax!) when I was a kid, and I still have them today, on VHS and now on home-made DVDs.

Brilliant, brilliant documentaries.

I suspect that there’s not a whole lot of originalmaterial left in the ‘Victory’ anyway…but no, no sale thank you.

what i like about how she’s displayed, is it almost looks like she’s afloat, as you approach her, just looks like she’s tied up at a dock!

Have you seen the ss Great Britain in Bristol? That sit’s in a dry dock, but surrounded by a glass ‘sea’- so it really DOES look like it’s afloat, and you can go ‘underwater’ into the climate controlled dock, too! Also very non-original these days, but a brilliant day out nonetheless.

Astonishing footage, ruddy awful commentary though!

I love them as books, but anyone would be mad to expect them to be true manuals for the aircraft!

I seem to recall our very own Fluffy telling us that there wasn’t going to be one for the Hurricane.

Moggy’s idea of a groundcrew hut is a good’un.

Okay, that’s one option, thanks! Any more out there? What do all you Spit bashers etc use to rivet the little blighters back together?

Not just ‘some reason’- we had a press day on Wednesday! BBC, ITV, Sky, live bits, recordedbits, every national and local paper you can think of…brilliant day, revealing K7 in it’s current ‘dry build’ state.

Our press release in full-

Virgin Trains keep Campbell’s Bluebird on the rails

As Donald Campbell’s iconic hydroplane, Bluebird K7, nears the end of a significant phase in her rebuild programme, a generous donation will help keep the project on target.

Virgin Trains has kindly donated a pair of cast metal ‘Donald Campbell’ nameplates which were previously fitted to a high-speed Super Voyager diesel train named after the famous record breaker. Appropriately their background colour is blue.

One is destined to become an attractive memento in the new Bluebird Wing of The Ruskin Museum at Coniston where the rebuilt jet-powered boat will be housed, while the other will be auctioned to help raise funds and is likely to become a highly prized collector’s item.

Regional general manager of Virgin Trains, Jane Cole said: “As train operators committed to serving Cumbria, we are delighted to help the project by donating these unique ‘Donald Campbell’ Super Voyager train nameplates.

“We are happy to pay tribute to a great pioneer in the quest for speed.”

Following a crucial grant of £250,000 from Cumbria Vision, and other donations, £527,000 has already been raised for the construction of Bluebird’s new home at The Ruskin Museum. The Bluebird Wing is due for completion later this year though further funding is needed for the museum display.

However, the rebuild of Bluebird herself is entirely dependent on supporters’ donations and sponsorship from industry.

The welcome gift from Virgin Trains coincides with the completion of a major phase in Bluebird’s return to full operating condition.

For almost a year since her reconstructed frame returned to the rebuild workshop at Tyneside, volunteers have worked untiringly to conserve, repair and rebuild her entire aluminium structure from front to back.

With approximately 98 per cent of the wreckage recovered from Coniston Water returned to the craft, Bluebird is now plainly recognisable as her former, powerful self.

Bluebird will be unveiled in this temporary condition to coincide with the presentation of the Virgin Trains nameplates, prior to being dismantled and prepared for her final build to commence later this year.

The Bluebird Project would like to thank Allan McLean, the communications manager for Virgin Trains in Scotland and north England and Will Whitehorn, the president of Virgin Galactic, for their invaluable help in the efforts to return Donald Campbell’s Bluebird to both her former glory and her spiritual home in Coniston, Cumbria.

Ends

*

Notes

Nameplate presentation: This event will take place at the Ruskin Museum, Yewdale Road, Coniston, Cumbria between 09.00 and 10.30 on Wednesday 30th July 2008. In attendance will be representatives of Virgin Trains, the Ruskin Museum and the Bluebird Project.

Unveiling of Bluebird K7: Between 14.30 and 16.00 on Wednesday 30th July 2008 Bluebird K7 and representatives of the rebuild team and museum staff will be available for interviews and photographs at Kiltech Ltd, 66 Hudson Street, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 1DL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

The Ruskin Museum – contact Vicky Slowe 015394 41164, [email]Information@Ruskinmuseum.com[/email].

The Bluebird Project – contact Bill Smith 0191 2580611, 07721 524371, [email]Bill@BluebirdProject.com[/email]

Donald Campbell died on Coniston Water in January 1967 when Bluebird crashed while he was attempting to break his own world water speed record.

A team led by amateur diver and engineer Bill Smith recovered the wrecked craft in 2001.

Since then, the decision has been made to rebuild her to her 1967 running condition and return her to Coniston. In addition to the Cumbria Vision grant, major financial support has been received from The Garfield Weston Foundation and South Lakeland District Council, and other bodies and individuals.

So, there you go! Check this out on the BBC-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7534074.stm

– you can see the new seat I built for the cockpit on there, too!