Well said @sheppane - on both counts.sheppane wrote: ↑Sun Aug 26, 2018 11:57 am Two things Mr 'Canopener'.
Why are some people so aggressive on Discusion Forum's? There is absolutely no need to be rude, and my reply certainly did not give you cause to be so.
The second thing is this.
Keith Mitchell and I (Neil Sheppard) did literally hundreds of hours of analysis with the full co-operation of Prof John Stollery (Consultant aero dynamicist retained by the Norris bros and DC) from Imperial College and latterly Cranfield and Mr AE James (managing director of Norris Bros and project manager for the 1966 rebuild). Tony carried out the post crash analysis in 1967. The conclusions we came to are on a basis of that work and are fully endorsed by Mr James and the late Prof Stollery. I suggest again that you take time to read our analysis before repeating the conclusion that Campbell hit his own wash when Bluebird left the water. Its a little bit more complicated than that.
First thing - Because they can. Simple.
Second thing - I find the analysis & arguments presented in Ch10 of your book, quite convincing - as a professional engineer (*). Its a lot easier to simplify what happened - he hit a log, he hit a wave, he hit his own wake - all been offered over the years. But - to 'do the math(s)' - and show K7 was (always) potentially unstable at higher speeds - is more tricky and perhaps difficult for people to understand and to accept.
Similar 3 pointer racing hydroplanes to this day, quite often flip - much as K7 did. And probably for basically the same reasons - going too fast for the craft and/or conditions, on the day. On another day, could be fine - but today, they flip. On previous days, K7 has been fine - but not on 4Jan67 - not really on either run, tbh.
Run One was fast, very fast (297mph average, confirmed by timing) - K7 was 'floating' but DMC got her through. On Run Two was he trying for just a bit more speed - to push his average over 300 - probably. Did he have an Engine Flame Out at just the wrong time - yes - and then lost the very useful downward force on the bows, due to Engine Thrust - yes. What else could he have then done...? Probably nothing.
Its a lot easier to say he hit his own wake - or a log - or was foolhardy.
(* - Gas Turbines - Marine & Aero - for over 35 years)
IM