Bluebird On Trial

The testing of restored Bluebird K7, the jet-engined hydroplane that crashed on Coniston Water in the late'60's, is taking place on the Island of Bute.  We considered this a unique event and it proved well worth the effort in travelling there.

We joined a modest and amiable crowd beside the fishery on Loch Fad, observing the activity of the technical crew, testing the engine and eventually taking to the water for a run. A second run was aborted and the boat returned to shore but it transpired that a fuse had blown and we watched as the engine case was removed (see extra 1) as they fixed the fault for the trials to continue. 

The second run attempt was then delayed due an accidental contact between Bluebird and one of the support boats, which containing the photographer, (extra 2); although no damage was sustained, a delay ensued while the air pressure to initiate the turbine was restored, during which she floated close to our pontoon where we could chat to Ted Walsh, the trials pilot (extra 3).
Eventually a second run was completed to their satisfaction, Bluebird returned to its gazebo boathouse-cum-workshop and we all departed with hundreds of photographs and  happy memories.