SPEED ON WATER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1939, Page 5

SPEED ON WATER

SIR M. CAMPBELL SEIS NEW RECORD

ALMOST CHOKED BY FUMES FROM EXHAUST

ACHIEVEMENT ON LAKE CONISTON.

By Telegraph—Press Association—-Copyright. LONDON, August 10.

Sir Malcolm Campbell established a world record of 141.74 miles an hour in the Bluebird 11 on Lake Collision, Lancashire. Hundreds of holidaymakers lined the kike at dawn. Condi - tions were perfect and there was no incident throughout the attempt. Sir Malcolm Campbell said the Bluebird’s performance was a credit to the designer and British engineering. "There is a devil of a lot more speed in her yet," he added. “We were only on the fringe of her capacity. I hope to try again after modifications to the hull.”

Sir Malcolm Campbell revealed that he was half choked by fumes from the exhaust on the return run. He had to stand up several times with his head out of the cockpit, struggling for air. This reduced the speed by several miles an hour. He finished scarlet in the face and gasping for breath. The Bluebird's engines are twelve years old. The designer, Commander Peter du Cane, said the lessons learnt from the Bluebird should be of the greatest value in the future design of flying-boat hulls. The average speed for the first of the runs over the measure mile was 140 miles an hour and that for the return run was 142.

The previous record, also held by Sir Malcolm Campbell, was 130.9 miles an hour. The design of the Bluebird II departs from that of its predecessor in several features. Its hull is fitted with sponsons (or flaps projecting from the side of the boat, a common feature on flying-boats), and a rear stop. The result is suspension at three points which the designers hope will offer greater stability and. less resistance to water. NEW DISCOVERIES VITALLY AFFECTING DESIGN OF NAVAL CRAFT. , SIR M. CAMPBELL'S STATEMENT. (Received This Day. 9 a.m.) LONDON, August 20. Sir Malcolm Campbell has revealed that his world speed record of 141.74 miles an hour, which he established yesterday on Coniston Water, resulted in most important discoveries, vitally affecting the design of high-speed naval craft. He said: “There is no need to improve on the new speed, for I have dropped on discoveries far more important than merely installing a new engine and slightly raising the speed record. Obviously I am not going to hand them on a plate to either Italy or Germany.”