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NARRATOR: With the arrival
of the jet age in the mid-1940s,

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speeds once only dreamed of
became a reality.

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Two extraordinary days
20 years apart stand out.

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Chuck Yeager's first supersonic flight

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and Donald Campbell's attempt to become
the fastest man on water.

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This is a dramatisation of events
as they happened,

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on two days that shook the world.

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It is 1947.

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The Arab-Israeli War is about to start

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A UFO has supposedly crashed at Roswell

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India has just won independence
from Britain.

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And far out in the Mojave Desert
of California,

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one man is about to pit his wits
against a terrifying force

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that has already claimed the lives
of many of his friends.

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His name is Charles Elwood Yeager,

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but everyone knows him simply as Chuck.

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Born in the backwoods of West Virginia,
Yeager is a maverick,

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a wild hillbilly turned fighter ace,

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credited with shooting down
more than a dozen enemy aircraft

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during World War Two.

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Yeager is one of the finest pilots
in the US Army Air Force.

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But he is about to face the greatest
challenge of his life.

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Today, he will strap himself into
a 31-foot rocket powered plane,

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and attempt to fly faster
than any man before,

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faster than the speed of sound.

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High above the desert is the wilderness
of sky that Yeager loves to call

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"- The wild blue yonder."

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But in the violent dogfights
of World War Two,

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many pilots were not killed
by enemy fire,

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but by a terrifying force of nature

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that lurked in the sky
that Yeager loves.

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"Enemy pilots
dived for their lives in dogfights.

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"Sometimes, they never did pull out
and ploughed right into the ground.

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"More than once,
I almost followed them in.

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"Diving at more than 500 miles per hour,

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"my Mustang began to shake violently
and my controls froze.

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I nearly bent that damn stick
straining to pull out."

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NARRATOR: Scientists calculated
that this buffeting in power-dives

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would peak at Mach 1,
760 miles per hour,

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the speed of sound.

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The phenomenon became known
as the sound barrier,

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a wall of turbulent air that would smash
any aeroplane that tried to pierce it

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Now, with the arrival
of new jet technology,

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speeds approaching Mach 1
have suddenly become possible.

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The enormous tactical advantage
of one day

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breaking through the sound barrier,

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and flying faster
than the speed of sound,

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is now the ultimate ambition
of the military.

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And, for the past four months,

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Yeager has been working at great risk
and in top secret

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on America's project to become
the first nation to go supersonic.

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Yeager's wife Glennis drives him
to the top-secret Muroc Airbase.

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Despite only just
scraping through high school,

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Yeager has been selected ahead of
other more qualified test pilots

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because of his uncanny ability
to keep cool

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during the moments of extreme danger
that fill his dally routine.

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Glennis knows only a little
of what he is doing,

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and has learned it's better not to ask.

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I really don't know why Chuck
appealed to me so much.

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"I dated a few soldiers,
but never a fighter pilot.

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"But also, I sensed he was a very strong
and determined person.

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"A poor boy,
who had started with nothing,

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rand would show the world
what he was really made of-"

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NARRATOR: The formidable plane
that Yeager will fly today

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will test him to the limit

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The Bell XS-1 aircraft,

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"X" for experimental,
"s" for supersonic

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and the first of its kind to be flown.

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The XS-1 has been built
to government contract

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at a cost of over four million dollars.

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Based on the streamlined shape
of a .5 calibre bullet,

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the plane has a fearsome engine
nicknamed Black Betsy.

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Its performance is straight out
of Buck Rogers.

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Betsy can push the aircraft up
into the outer limits of the atmosphere

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at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute,

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just as long as its highly volatile
fuel doesn't explode on ignition,

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and blow the aircraft and pilot
into the middle of the next century.

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The X-1 team meet for breakfast.

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MAN: Looks like your friend Slick's
in here again.

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NARRATOR: For months they have lived
and breathed the project,

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but they have little support
from anybody else on the airbase.

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Yeager knows that most think the X-1
is little more

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than a hugely expensive joke.

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to put me on that plane?
A thousand dollars.

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"Practically, nobody at Muroc
gives us any chance of success."

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"There are only 13 of us on the project,"

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"and we were off by ourselves
at the far end of the airbase."

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I didn't have to be a genius
to figure out that they were putting

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"plenty of distance between
their own hides and us"

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"to see whether or not the only thing
I'd break was my own precious neck."

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NARRATOR: Yeager has brought two of his
closest friends onto the project.

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Captain jack Ridley,
an Army Air Corps engineer,

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has been working on vital modifications
to the X-1's design.

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Ridley is the only man Yeager trusts
with his life

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Bob Hoover is backup X-1 test pilot.

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But he knows he will only
get to fly the X-1

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if disaster strikes for his friend.

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The only civilian on the team
is Dick Frost, Bell's chief engineer.

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He's been the driving force
behind the X-1 programme

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since it began in 1945.

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"Yeager, Ridley and Hoover
arrived at Muroc in mid-July."

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"Hoover was a happy-go-lucky stick
and rudder man. Hell of a good pilot."

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"But Chuck Yeager was all test pilot."

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"He was intent and serious."

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"There was a certain sceptical look
in his eyes,"

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"probably from the feeling that people
looked down on him"

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"because he lacked their education
and background."

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"But, by God, he'd show them."

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NARRATOR: Preparations begin
for today's flight

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The X-1 is towed to the fuel depot.

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As with all his previous aircraft,
Yeager has named the X-1 after his wife.

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"Chuck purposely hadn't told me
that he named the plane

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"Glamorous Glennis,
but there it was, written on the nose.

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"He did that on his Mustang in England.

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"But this was in important research
aeroplane and I was very surprised.

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"He said,
"You're my good luck charm, hon.

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"Any aeroplane I name after you
always brings me home."

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NARRATOR: Alone in his office,
Jack Ridley checks and rechecks

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his calculations
for Yeager's next flight

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The X-1 has been radically modified,
according to his design.

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Today's flight will put
his theory to the test.

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"The X-1 was controlled in the
same way as a conventional plane,"

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"with elevators hinged on the tailplane
operated for climb or descend."

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"On every flight,
Chuck had flown faster and faster,"

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"but at speeds over 600 miles per hour,"

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“turbulence caused sudden
and violent pitching

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"sending the aircraft out of control"

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I hoped I'd come up with a solution.

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"We added a motor so that a small
but critical correction could be made"

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"to the angle of the X-E’s entire
tailplane during flight."

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NARRATOR: If Ridley's calculations
are correct,

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his modification will keep
the aircraft stable

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as it flies into the sound barrier.

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But if he is wrong,
the tailplane could be torn off,

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sending the X-1 and his friend Yeager
spinning into the Earth.

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At the fuelling depot.
the X-7 is prepared for flight

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It is filled with over 600 gallons
of a highly explosive mixture

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of liquid oxygen and alcohol

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The liquid oxygen is stored
at a temperature

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of minus 290 degrees centigrade
in tanks right behind the pilot's seat

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Fully laden, the X-1 weighs a massive
two and a half tons,

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with nearly two-thirds of the weight
taken up by the fuel

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Yeager knows he will effectively
be strapping himself

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into a bomb with wings.

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If he is unable to fire the engine
and has to land the aircraft

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with the fuel still aboard,
the undercarriage will collapse

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and Yeager and his plane
will be blown to pieces.

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(CUTTING)

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For ail the expense
of the flight programme,

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Yeager has not even been issued
with a helmet for his test flight.

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An old leather tank driver's helmet

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is the only thing he can find
to protect his head.

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But Yeager has another problem,

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one that he has been keeping secret
for the last two days.

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(AIRCRAFT PASSING)

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A fall from a horse when out riding
has left him with two broken ribs.

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BOB HOOVER: Thought you might need this.

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What is this?

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- That's your riding kit.
- My riding kit.

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YEAGER: Oh, right, a carrot,
thank you, because...

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NARRATOR: Yeager and his friends
know that as soon

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as his injury is made public,
he will be grounded.

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Why did you get me glasses?
You know I see perfectly.

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That's so you can see where the hell
you're going next time.

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Ridley told me about your ribs.
Let's have a look at you.

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Ridley told you.

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- How's the horse doing?
- The horse?

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You're something else.

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Well, I hope you fly better
than you ride.

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Well, you know I do,
50 you just watch my back.

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NARRATOR: As the team continue
their preparations,

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the X-1 is loaded into the belly
of a specially-adapted B-29 bomber.

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As it holds fuel for just two and a half
minutes of powered flight

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the X-1 will be carried up to
20,000 feet and dropped like a bomb.

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The bomb bay doors
and most of the underside of the B-29,

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have been cut away to accommodate
the rocket plane.

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Even so, there is less than a foot
of clearance between the underside

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of the fully laden X-1 and the ground.

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And nobody wants to think
of the consequences

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of an accident on takeoff,

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when just a single bomb shackle
is holding two and a half tons

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of volatile rocket fuel
inches from the runway.

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(ALL CHATTERING)

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00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:08,480
Good morning, gentlemen.

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00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:09,675
ALL: Good morning, sir.

186
00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,149
X-1 flight number nine coming up.

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00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:13,976
For today's flight,
temperature of 85 degrees...

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00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,354
NARRATOR: Today's flight plan

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00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,478
is designed to test Ridley's
new tall configuration

190
00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:21,234
up to a speed of Mach .95.

191
00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,755
miles an hour. Runway six is...

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00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:27,720
"If we were successful,
a flight at Mach 1, the speed of sound,"

193
00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,916
"was just a few days away."

194
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,753
"But we knew Chuck's injury was gonna
make today's test flight"

195
00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,036
"his last for a long time."

196
00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:39,477
B-29 will take off and climb
to 15,000 feet

197
00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,631
where they will be joined
by the chase aircraft,

198
00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:46,510
continue to climb to 25,000 feet
for the test.

199
00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,796
Hoover, you'll have accelerated
out ahead...

200
00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,918
NARRATOR: Frost will fly a chase plane
alongside the B-29

201
00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,799
to monitor the X-1's drop
from the bomber.

202
00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,029
Hoover will take up position
10 miles ahead

203
00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,750
to provide Yeager with an aiming point,
as he rockets past

204
00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:07,712
Cardenas, you wanna talk us through
the last five minutes prior to release?

205
00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:09,552
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

206
00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,359
Okay, five minute warning, gentlemen.

207
00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,957
NARRATOR: B-29 pilot, Bob Cardenas,
is the officer in charge of the flight.

208
00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,554
He takes the team through
the launch protocol

209
00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,871
Four minutes, pressurise the fuel tanks.

210
00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,476
Three minutes, pressurise LOX tanks.

211
00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,679
Two minutes, the tower's gonna announce
the test in progress.

212
00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,559
One minute warning, clear to drop.

213
00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:38,776
SENIOR OFFICER: Yeager,
particularly monitor

214
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:42,714
the elevator effectiveness as you
go through .94 Mach.

215
00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,191
The engineers think that
that's really a critical point.

216
00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,590
And don't go faster than that

217
00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:52,719
unless you're really confident
that you can handle it.

218
00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,556
Gentlemen, that completes the briefing.
Are there any questions?

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00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:58,358
- Have a good flight.
- Thank you, sir.

220
00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,558
Set them up, boys. Let's go fly.

221
00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,910
"Ridley's moving tall
really bolstered my morale"

222
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,719
"and I wanted to get
to that sound barrier."

223
00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,031
I suppose there were advantages
in creeping up on Mach 1,

224
00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:19,193
"but my vote was to stop screwing around
before we had some stupid accident"

225
00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:24,150
"that could cost us not only a mission,
but the entire project."

226
00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:34,079
(CHATTERING)

227
00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,838
NARRATOR: The crew assemble,
ready to board the mother ship.

228
00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:43,595
All other aircraft had been instructed
to land and clear the airspace

229
00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,956
ready for the B-29's takeoff.

230
00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,394
Cardenas Will take the pilot seat
with Ridley as co-pilot

231
00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,319
But there is no seat
in the bomber for Yeager,

232
00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,597
who has just a fruit box
to sit on during takeoff.

233
00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,157
- Let's go fly, boys.
- All right, let's do it.

234
00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,516
NARRATOR: As the crew
take up their positions,

235
00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,353
final checks are made
on the mother ship.

236
00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,076
At the edge of the runway,
radar-tracking equipment is set up

237
00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,231
to monitor Yeager's flight.

238
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,634
Muroc Tower, Air Force eight-zero-zero
taxi instructions.

239
00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:59,880
MAN ON RADIO: B-29 eight-zero-zero,
cleared runway six, seven miles an hour.

240
00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,356
Roger, clear to line up and roll

241
00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,800
- Clear to roll?
- She's all yours, Major.

242
00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,996
NARRATOR: Far from the action,
Chuck's wife Glennis can only wait

243
00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,071
until the flight is over.

244
00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:09,074
The B-29 makes the slow climb
to altitude.

245
00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,516
Cardenas checks in with the progress
of the chase planes.

246
00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,150
B-29 eight-zero-zero,
Air Force two-zero-one.

247
00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,516
Hoover, you guys on the way up?

248
00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:24,753
Yeah, boy.

249
00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,835
CARDENAS ON RADIO: Okay,
we're just closing 15,000 feet,

250
00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:29,752
about 20 south of the lake,

251
00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,070
making a right turn now
and heading south.

252
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:33,230
Roger.

253
00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,872
NARRATOR: As the plane continues
climbing to 20,000 feel,

254
00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:57,191
Ridley and Yeager head for
the freezing air of the bomb bay

255
00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,113
and the entrance
to the cockpit of the X-1.

256
00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,400
Only the streamlined shape of the X-1

257
00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:18,314
lies between Yeager and the desert
8,000 feet below.

258
00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,077
Dangling on a tiny platform,

259
00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,152
Yeager battles against
the biting wind of the slipstream

260
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,231
to squeeze himself into the cockpit

261
00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,231
Because of Yeager's broken ribs,
Ridley has cut a short length

262
00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,756
of broomstick for him
to throw shut the heavy door latch

263
00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,956
and seal himself inside the cockpit

264
00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:32,954
Bob Hoover accelerates past the B-29
to take up his position ten miles ahead.

265
00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:38,514
HOOVER ON RADIO: Air Force two-zero-one.
I see you now, buddy. Coming up to you.

266
00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,119
Eight-zero-zero, five minute warning.

267
00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,991
"There are at least a dozen ways
that X-1 can kill you,"

268
00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,390
"so your concentration is total"

269
00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,151
"I'd be flying higher,
around 45,000 feel"

270
00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,756
rand faster
than any military pilot had yet flown.

271
00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,476
"Anyone with brain cells
would have to wonder"

272
00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:05,995
"what in hell he was doing
in such a situation,"

273
00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:10,597
"strapped inside a live bomb that's
about to be dropped out of a bomb bay."

274
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,191
"But risks are the spice of life"

275
00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,716
"and this is the kind of moment
a test pilot lives for."

276
00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:19,236
"The butterflies are fluttering,"

277
00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:23,075
"but you feed off fears as if
1's a high-energy candy bar."

278
00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,629
It keeps you alert and focused.

279
00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:30,237
"You count on experience, concentration
and instincts to pull you through."

280
00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,679
"And luck. Without luck..."

281
00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:36,391
CARDENAS ON RADIO: Four minutes.

282
00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:41,309
NARRATOR: Frost files
alongside the B-29,

283
00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,199
ready to monitor the launch of the X-1.

284
00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:48,114
Yeager, this is Frost
I'm in position to check your jettison.

285
00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,671
Roger, fuel jettison in on.

286
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:55,391
Fuel jettison okay? Switch off.

287
00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:01,674
LOX jettison and switch off are okay.

288
00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,511
Roger, two minutes.

289
00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,240
MAN ON RADIO: Muroc Air Force Base
to all aircraft.

290
00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:10,635
All aircraft stay clear
of Muroc dry lake area.

291
00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,119
Test in progress.

292
00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,953
All aircraft on ground return
to parking positions.

293
00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,793
Repeat, all aircraft stay clear.

294
00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:25,555
B-29 eight-zero-zero to NACA radar,
Muroc tower, chase aircraft, one minute.

295
00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,355
MAN ON RADIO: NACA radar to
Air Force B-29 eight-zero-zero.

296
00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:31,839
You are clear to drop.

297
00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:35,589
Yeager, this is Ridley. You all set?

298
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,435
Hell, yes. Let's get it over with.

299
00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,911
- Remember those stabilizer settings.
- Roger.

300
00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,833
Eight-zero-zero, here is your countdown.

301
00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:54,432
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six

302
00:23:54,560 --> 00:24:01,114
five, four, three, two, one.

303
00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:02,635
Drop.

304
00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,912
"The moment of truth."

305
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,516
"If you're gonna be blown up,
this is likely to be when."

306
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:27,912
"You light the first chamber.”"

307
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:29,434
YEAGER ON RADIO: Fire in four.

308
00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:37,514
"Slammed back in your seat,
tremendous kick in the butt,"

309
00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,159
"Nose up and hold on."

310
00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:56,477
NARRATOR: Yeager begins to accelerate
towards his test speed of Mach .95.

311
00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:57,976
YEAGER ON RADIO: Pressure's all normal

312
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,469
NARRATOR: With just one
rocket thruster firing,

313
00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:04,474
he is already travelling at over
500 miles per hour.

314
00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,434
"Climbing faster
than you can even think."

315
00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:14,399
"You've never known such a feeling
of speed while pointing up to the sky."

316
00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,830
"This beast's power is awesome."

317
00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,711
NARRATOR: Suddenly, as the X-1 rockets
past 600 miles per hour,

318
00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,269
it smashes into violent turbulence.

319
00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:44,757
It's the moment of truth
for Ridley's calculations.

320
00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:03,271
At Mach .95, Yeager makes the vital
adjustment to the tailplane.

321
00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,591
There is no room for error.

322
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:24,120
YEAGER ON RADIO: Say, Ridley,
make a note here.

323
00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,919
Elevator effectiveness regained.

324
00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:29,678
Roger, noted.

325
00:26:31,360 --> 00:26:34,990
NARRATOR: Ridley's tailplane
has worked. The test is over.

326
00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:40,235
But not for Yeager, who keeps
on accelerating towards Mach 1.

327
00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:42,870
YEAGER ON RADIO: Firing four.

328
00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,719
"At 45,000 feet, where morning
resembles the beginning of dusk,"

329
00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,758
"when you turn on the last
of the four chambers,"

330
00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,513
"God, what a ride."

331
00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:55,999
YEAGER ON RADIO: Mach .95.

332
00:26:56,720 --> 00:26:58,597
.96,

333
00:26:58,800 --> 00:26:59,870
.97,

334
00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:01,870
.98,

335
00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:04,075
.99...

336
00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:10,435
NARRATOR: Just as he hits the full
destructive force of the sound barrier,

337
00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:12,716
Yeager disappears from sight

338
00:27:21,360 --> 00:27:22,509
(SONIC BOOM)

339
00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,229
For a moment, it seems Yeager is lost

340
00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:44,794
(ENGINE ROARING)

341
00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,471
YEAGER ON RADIO: Hey, Ridley.
Make another note here.

342
00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,474
There's something wrong
with this Mach meter. It's gone screwy.

343
00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:59,674
If it is, we'll fix it Personally,
I think you're seeing things.

344
00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:02,278
I guess I am, Jack.

345
00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:09,790
NARRATOR: At precisely 10:18,
on October 14, 1947,

346
00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,235
Chuck Yeager has made history.

347
00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,914
The first man to break through
the sound barrier.

348
00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,435
His sonic boom, the world's first,

349
00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,512
marking the beginning
of the supersonic age.

350
00:28:33,120 --> 00:28:34,474
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)

351
00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:38,235
"The flight, in my report,
was kept secret for seven months."

352
00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:40,479
"But when we went public,"

353
00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:44,076
"the news made Yeager
the most famous pilot in the world."

354
00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:47,513
(ALL CHATTERING)

355
00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:49,559
You drink more and then you toast...

356
00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:50,914
I'm still living.

357
00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:52,696
NARRATOR: Yeager and Ridley
continued to work

358
00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,030
on the X project for nearly a decade

359
00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:59,637
eventually taking their flights up to
nearly three times the speed of sound.

360
00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,600
Yeager went on to help train the first
generation of astronauts,

361
00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:08,754
and saw the X-1 programme culminate
in man landing on the moon.

362
00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:18,799
It is 1967,

363
00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,713
20 years after Yeager's
first supersonic flight

364
00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:27,274
in swinging London, the Beatles
are about to release Sergeant Pepper.

365
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:32,029
America is just a year away
from putting a man on the moon.

366
00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,756
In South Africa,
the first heart transplant

367
00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:36,911
is about to be carried out.

368
00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:39,596
And in the Lake District
of northern England,

369
00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:43,913
one man is about to make a bid
to break the world water speed record.

370
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,196
In a cottage in the village of Coniston,

371
00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:09,238
Donald Campbell,
world-famous record breaker,

372
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,237
sits playing a game of Russian Patience

373
00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,836
watched by his old friend,
newspaperman Keith Harrison.

374
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:19,352
It's been over two months, Donald.

375
00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,277
We've got to stop the Americans.
300 will do that.

376
00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,269
- What about the backers?
- Backers? What backers?

377
00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,236
Jet plane, jet boat,
doesn't really matter.

378
00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,515
Once you're committed, you're committed.

379
00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,438
Ace of Spades, Queen of Spades.

380
00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:51,670
Those are the cards Mary Queen of Scots
drew right before she was beheaded.

381
00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,151
Someone's for the chop.

382
00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:58,151
Hope to God it's not me.

383
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,479
NARRATOR: Coniston Water,
the Lake District.

384
00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:14,071
For nine gruelling weeks,
Campbell has been risking his neck

385
00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:18,677
to get a new water speed record
in his jet-powered boat Bluebird.

386
00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:28,438
It has been a battle against
appalling weather,

387
00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:30,511
endless mechanical problems,

388
00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:35,515
and with no sponsorship,
time is running out fast for Campbell

389
00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,917
Already famous for pushing
a jet-powered car

390
00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,230
to 400 miles per hour on land,

391
00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:52,957
Campbell is obsessed with breaking
the 300-mile per hour barrier on water,

392
00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,359
but in a world now dominated
by pop culture and the space race,

393
00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,993
Campbell's old-fashioned values
appear out of date and out of style.

394
00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,871
MALE REPORTER: If you break this record,
what does it prove?

395
00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,277
I think perhaps, most important of all,

396
00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:14,557
it still proves British leadership
in engineering terms.

397
00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:16,950
And it does, I think,
also show the British,

398
00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:18,240
when they make their minds up,

399
00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:21,551
can jolly well overcome all obstacles
and achieve anything.

400
00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:25,235
So, really, this is based on British
patriotism, as far as you're concerned.

401
00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,996
We are all playing for a team, old boy.
We are all playing for the same team.

402
00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:44,958
NARRATOR: Camped out on the banks
of the lake is John Lomax,

403
00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,270
an amateur film maker from Liverpool

404
00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:51,678
Over the last nine weeks,

405
00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:55,435
he has used every spare penny he earns
as an engineering fitter

406
00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,239
to capture Campbell's attempts on film.

407
00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,953
Lomax has seen the lake
in all its moods,

408
00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,759
violent one moment, placid the next

409
00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:13,398
Like Campbell, he hopes that today
the surface will remain calm enough

410
00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:15,232
for the attempt to be made.

411
00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:23,479
"Donald Campbell was my hero
as far back as I could remember."

412
00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:26,190
I loved his bulldog spirit

413
00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:28,794
"He was keeping the flag
waving for Britain."

414
00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:31,320
"Most of the lads
up where I came from in Liverpool"

415
00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,033
"still believed in that kind of thing."

416
00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:36,709
I wanted my film
to be a tribute to him.

417
00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:40,273
"He reckoned
I might win a prize with it"

418
00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:43,076
"One more trip back to Coniston,"

419
00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,276
"and I reckon that I'd have
the film finished"

420
00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,193
"and Donald Campbell
would have the record."

421
00:33:59,880 --> 00:34:01,439
(CLOCK TICKING)

422
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,397
NARRATOR: Campbell wakes
well before dawn

423
00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,757
in a small house he has rented
near Coniston Water.

424
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:18,230
He is all too aware of the risks
he is taking in Bluebird.

425
00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:22,439
But pride and spiralling debts
give him no choice but to battle on.

426
00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:24,958
Campbell knows that some are saying

427
00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:29,432
that his attempt at 300 miles per hour
is little more than a death wish.

428
00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,836
Ten years earlier, his home movies
had captured a time

429
00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:37,355
when the stakes were not as high.

430
00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:40,839
MALE REPORTER: New York, January, 1957.

431
00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:43,639
A hectic week's business
and many discussions in an effort

432
00:34:43,720 --> 00:34:47,429
to find a new lake on which to attack
the world's water speed record.

433
00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:51,515
But, this is soon followed
by some lovely days in the Florida sun.

434
00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:58,560
NARRATOR: Campbell was living
a jet-set lifestyle,

435
00:34:58,640 --> 00:35:00,836
and record-breaking was part of the fun.

436
00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:02,176
MALE REPORTER: It's St Patrick's Day,

437
00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:05,192
and Nations and Campbell
open the ski show.

438
00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,470
NARRATOR: After his first world record
in Bluebird in 1955,

439
00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:17,995
Campbell was awarded the CBE.

440
00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,959
His success attracted
captains of industry

441
00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:24,670
and the Bluebird project
could count on corporate sponsorship.

442
00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,559
Donald Campbell
was the man of the moment

443
00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:44,470
MAN: 250, 260 - into the kilometre.
Still accelerating. 270, 275, 280.

444
00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:50,476
NARRATOR: By 1964, Campbell had pushed
Bluebird to 276 miles per hour.

445
00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:54,958
In the same year, he took the land speed
record at 400 miles per hour

446
00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:58,192
in his jet-powered car
on Lake Eyre in Australia.

447
00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:02,033
Holding both records
was the peak of his career.

448
00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:07,557
He had found real happiness with his
third wife, cabaret singes, Tonia Bern.

449
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:10,794
The couple were the stars of the moment

450
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:15,989
He had the CBE and hoped to be knighted,
but the honour never came.

451
00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:22,869
Now, in 1967, younger, trendier icons
have taken the spotlight

452
00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,475
Campbell's land speed record
has been broken

453
00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,439
by glamorous young American
Craig Breedlove.

454
00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:38,194
The old school of record-breaking
is out of fashion.

455
00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:40,551
Campbell's sponsors have deserted him.

456
00:36:40,640 --> 00:36:43,792
His obsession
has all but destroyed his marriage.

457
00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:46,795
He's going it alone at Coniston.

458
00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,016
MALE REPORTER: How does it make you feel
to have to rely on the help of press men

459
00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:54,271
even to launch Bluebird,
to man your boats and things like this?

460
00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,193
Well, they are all jolly good,
willing helpers,

461
00:36:57,280 --> 00:36:59,999
and it's the good, old
Battle of Britain, Dunkirk spirit.

462
00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,435
There's a job to be done,
it's a man-sized job,

463
00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:04,616
and everybody up here
with a heartbeat in the right place is,

464
00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:06,074
you know, right behind it.

465
00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:08,316
They've been up here
for an awful long time.

466
00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,914
What is it costing a day,
every day you have to wait?

467
00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,274
A lot too much.

468
00:37:12,360 --> 00:37:14,296
Can you give us any idea
how long you can hold out?

469
00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:16,376
Once you start on one of these
world's record attempts,

470
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:19,552
you're past the point of no return
the moment you start.

471
00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:21,438
There is no going back.

472
00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:26,998
(WHIRRING)

473
00:37:29,720 --> 00:37:33,315
NARRATOR: Keith Harrison starts
the generator to light the boathouse.

474
00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:36,392
Soon, the rest of Campbell's team
will arrive.

475
00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:41,114
As a press reporter, Harrison
has followed all of Campbell's exploits

476
00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:44,431
and is proud to be
an unofficial member of the team.

477
00:37:44,520 --> 00:37:47,399
Although he knows Campbell's spirits
are at an all-time low,

478
00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,949
his major concern is with the boat

479
00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:55,309
"I'd seen the boat first time out
in all its glory in 1955,"

480
00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:59,316
"and Donald like a grinning school boy
with a new toy."

481
00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:02,190
"But the boat
I stood looking at that January morning"

482
00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:03,953
"was a very different beast"

483
00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:06,669
"Everything about it had changed."

484
00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:10,635
"Donald now had nothing short
of a jet plane without wings."

485
00:38:10,720 --> 00:38:14,395
"And today, he was planning
to push it right to the limit"

486
00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:19,597
NARRATOR: In preparation
for the new attempt,

487
00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:22,638
the boat has been fitted
with a far more powerful engine,

488
00:38:22,720 --> 00:38:24,233
a Bristol Orpheus,

489
00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:27,073
but using 1,000 lbs more thrust
than the original

490
00:38:27,160 --> 00:38:28,878
(ENGINE WHIRRING)

491
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:39,880
At high speed, Bluebird is designed
to rise up on its floats

492
00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:42,157
and skim across the water

493
00:38:42,240 --> 00:38:46,074
with just 14-square inches of hull
in contact with the surface.

494
00:38:46,760 --> 00:38:49,195
But the new engine
threw the boat out of balance,

495
00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:51,840
and Bluebird refused to perform.

496
00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:57,039
Sandbags, later replaced
by lead ballast,

497
00:38:57,120 --> 00:38:59,509
were attached to the tall of the boat

498
00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,433
it was enough to get Bluebird
skimming again.

499
00:39:04,640 --> 00:39:07,996
But there is still a problem
with fuel supply to the jet.

500
00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:11,357
More than once,
the engine has cut out under power.

501
00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:14,876
Campbell cannot afford any more delay,

502
00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:16,871
and has announced
that Bluebird is ready.

503
00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:20,160
He just needs a break in the weather.

504
00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:32,070
Campbell gets ready to leave
for Pier Cottage and Bluebird.

505
00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,351
A deeply superstitious man,

506
00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:39,592
he will take with him
his lucky mascot, Mr Woppit

507
00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:41,910
and around his neck
he carries a St Christopher

508
00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:43,513
given to him by his father,

509
00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:47,070
the world-famous record breaker,
Sir Malcolm Campbell

510
00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:53,549
in the last few weeks,
the newspapers have sniped at Donald,

511
00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:57,190
accusing him of being no more
than a pale imitation of his father,

512
00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,351
the legendary speed king.

513
00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:10,016
He didn't want you to follow
in his footsteps, did he?

514
00:40:10,040 --> 00:40:12,793
No, he did not.
Most and very emphatically, he did not.

515
00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:14,632
Why didn't he want you to?

516
00:40:14,720 --> 00:40:17,678
Well, I suppose better than anybody,
of course, he knew the risks

517
00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:19,398
and I was his only son.

518
00:40:19,480 --> 00:40:21,073
And why did you?

519
00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:23,796
Possibly because I was his son.

520
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:31,072
NARRATOR: Born into a privileged world
and surrounded by fast cars

521
00:40:31,160 --> 00:40:33,356
and record-breaking machines,

522
00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:36,478
Donald was always going to be
his father's son.

523
00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:39,756
Through the 1920s and '30s,

524
00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:42,593
Malcolm Campbell
had the world at his feet,

525
00:40:42,680 --> 00:40:44,910
and Donald always at his side.

526
00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:50,959
A self-made man who let nothing
stand between him and his ambitions,

527
00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:55,273
Sir Malcolm was the symbol of everything
England stood for between the wars.

528
00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:58,591
He was the speed king in an age
where every record broken

529
00:40:58,680 --> 00:41:01,638
was another feather in the cap
for the Empire.

530
00:41:01,720 --> 00:41:03,996
MAN: Three cheers for
Sir Malcolm Campbell Hip, hip...

531
00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:05,878
ALL: Hurray!

532
00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:08,395
- Hip, hip...
- Hurray!

533
00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:10,756
- Hip, hip...
- Hurray!

534
00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:13,159
Donald worshipped him.

535
00:41:13,240 --> 00:41:17,837
But while Sir Malcolm was alive, there
was only room for one record breaker.

536
00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:20,795
After Sir Malcolm's death in 1948,

537
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:24,032
Donald, who'd never raced a car
or boat before,

538
00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:25,838
decided that
he could not let the Americans

539
00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:28,594
take his father's records from Britain.

540
00:41:28,680 --> 00:41:31,194
He vowed to keep the Bluebird name alive

541
00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:32,918
and continue the Campbell dynasty.

542
00:41:33,000 --> 00:41:36,197
extremely pleased.
It's now just a question of waiting

543
00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:39,875
for a settled spell of weather,
so that we complete the trials

544
00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:44,392
and possibly make the attempt
that we have to on the record itself.

545
00:42:09,080 --> 00:42:10,912
Harrison checks the surface conditions

546
00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:13,799
across the long stretch
of Coniston Water.

547
00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:18,434
The lake is five and a quarter miles
long, one hundred and eighty feet deep,

548
00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:20,591
and just half a mile wide.

549
00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:24,749
Mountainous and exposed at one end
and wooded at the other,

550
00:42:24,840 --> 00:42:27,719
conditions constantly change
on the surface.

551
00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:32,717
Harrison has often heard Campbell call
the unpredictable waters "the bitch".

552
00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:41,120
Today, a wind from the northwest sends
squalls and eddies across the water,

553
00:42:41,720 --> 00:42:44,678
but the surface looks better
than it has for weeks.

554
00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,878
Campbell will make his decision
as soon as he arrives.

555
00:43:01,440 --> 00:43:03,400
CAMPBELL: When you go down
to the arena, you know,

556
00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:05,351
you go down with your eyes open.

557
00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:07,238
And when you go down into the arena,

558
00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:10,915
you well know you're sometimes
likely to get your nose punched.

559
00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:14,197
You do it with your eyes open,
you take the risks.

560
00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:16,896
Of course you're under tension,
of course you're frightened,

561
00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:18,149
everybody concerned is.

562
00:43:18,240 --> 00:43:20,959
If they weren't,
you'd be very frightened of them.

563
00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:23,554
But you keep these fears to yourself.

564
00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:33,992
Campbell sets off
for the Bluebird launch site.

565
00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:37,789
There he will assemble his team
and decide if today is the day.

566
00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:45,680
CAMPBELL: I worshipped my father.

567
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:48,593
In 1935, I was a schoolboy

568
00:43:48,800 --> 00:43:52,191
on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah
when he was the first man to reach 300,

569
00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:56,239
And on that first run,
one of the Dunlop lyres burst

570
00:43:56,320 --> 00:43:59,870
at 300 miles an hour as the car left
the measured mile.

571
00:43:59,960 --> 00:44:03,590
And I will never forget seeing
the old man by the side of that car,

572
00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:06,593
gaunt and silent
and I tried to talk to him.

573
00:44:06,680 --> 00:44:09,240
And then suddenly I realised,
this was the wrong thing to do

574
00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:12,153
because I was sure, in his own mind,
that he thought

575
00:44:12,240 --> 00:44:15,437
that on his return run,
he was going to be killed.

576
00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:18,157
But that didn't daunt him,

577
00:44:18,240 --> 00:44:21,039
and it didn't in any way
affect his resolution.

578
00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:36,189
What are you thinking, Skip?

579
00:44:36,280 --> 00:44:39,477
Let's go for it.
Everyone to their stations.

580
00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:58,949
In the boathouse,
John Lomax gets more shots for his film

581
00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:02,635
as Campbell and his team,
prepare Bluebird for the water.

582
00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:10,599
"There was Leo Villa,
Campbell's mechanic.

583
00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:12,616
"They were always
straight with each other,

584
00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:16,679
"but things were different that morning.
Campbell was on edge.

585
00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:20,355
"He'd told Villa about the cards
he'd drawn the night before.

586
00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:23,390
"Villa was like a father to Donald.

587
00:45:23,480 --> 00:45:26,438
He'd been Sir Malcolm's mechanic
through the 20s and "30s"

588
00:45:26,520 --> 00:45:29,160
rand had known Donald
since he was a child.

589
00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:31,554
"But Villa believed"

590
00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:35,679
"that either you took bad omens
100% seriously and packed it in,"

591
00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:38,639
"or you forgot about them
and got on with it"

592
00:45:40,320 --> 00:45:42,596
"Donald knew the choice was his."

593
00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:47,553
I suppose after 64 days, anybody
would have just wanted it over with.

594
00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:51,514
"But he looked very much on his own."

595
00:46:03,640 --> 00:46:05,631
NARRATOR: On the opposite shore
of the lake,

596
00:46:05,720 --> 00:46:08,519
the timekeepers set up their equipment.

597
00:46:09,440 --> 00:46:12,751
Two sets of electrically-fired
chronometres will be triggered

598
00:46:12,840 --> 00:46:15,354
as Bluebird enters and exits the course.

599
00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:22,993
Under the rules for a record attempt,
Campbell must make two runs.

600
00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:27,315
If his average speed on the course
is over 300 miles per hour,

601
00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:29,311
the record will be his.

602
00:46:39,160 --> 00:46:41,436
On a boat at the far end of the lake,

603
00:46:41,520 --> 00:46:44,353
Harrison and a photographer
from his newspaper

604
00:46:44,440 --> 00:46:46,511
are ready to watch the attempt

605
00:46:46,800 --> 00:46:51,590
Harrison will monitor Campbell's radio
transmissions during the two runs.

606
00:46:54,880 --> 00:47:00,034
With Bluebird's jet engine fuelled up
and ready to go, Campbell climbs aboard.

607
00:47:04,400 --> 00:47:08,917
The boat is slowly winched down
the slipway and onto the lake.

608
00:47:13,520 --> 00:47:17,479
"We'd been frozen to the bone for weeks.
We'd watched and waited"

609
00:47:17,560 --> 00:47:20,154
"and hoped each day would be the day."

610
00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:24,155
"Sometimes you couldn't help
but start to lose the faith."

611
00:47:24,560 --> 00:47:27,473
"But each time I saw that boat slide
out onto the lake"

612
00:47:27,560 --> 00:47:29,676
"and Campbell say, 'Command',"

613
00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:32,593
"you could feel
the whole atmosphere change."

614
00:47:38,920 --> 00:47:43,118
"And the minute Bluebird was fired up,
you knew why you were there,"

615
00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:46,511
"and you wouldn't swap that experience
for anything in the world."

616
00:48:09,720 --> 00:48:12,712
(CAMPBELL CHATTERING ON RADIO)

617
00:48:13,720 --> 00:48:15,950
NARRATOR: Campbell heads out
into the middle of the lake

618
00:48:16,040 --> 00:48:18,634
and lines up for the first timed run.

619
00:48:20,080 --> 00:48:23,391
(CAMPBELL CHATTERING ON RADIO)

620
00:48:26,320 --> 00:48:29,438
NARRATOR: Rather than join the press
on the lake to film the runs,

621
00:48:29,520 --> 00:48:32,319
Lomax decides to wait alone on the pier.

622
00:48:32,920 --> 00:48:36,993
He wants to be in prime position
when Campbell returns in triumph.

623
00:48:55,840 --> 00:48:57,239
Clear to go.

624
00:48:58,640 --> 00:49:00,074
Clear to go.

625
00:49:07,120 --> 00:49:08,997
It's beginning to lift

626
00:49:10,360 --> 00:49:12,749
It's moving very hard at 150.

627
00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:17,920
NARRATOR: Campbell accelerates from
thirty to two hundred miles per hour

628
00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:19,798
in just six seconds.

629
00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:35,876
(CHATTERING ON RADIO)

630
00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:44,318
NARRATOR: Accelerating hard past
250 miles per hour,

631
00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:48,155
Campbell charges up to the first marker
and the timers are triggered.

632
00:49:50,680 --> 00:49:53,991
MAN ON RADIO: Still holds. Still holds.

633
00:49:57,720 --> 00:50:00,633
NARRATOR: In just five seconds,
he has covered the distance.

634
00:50:05,640 --> 00:50:08,871
But Campbell doesn't peak
until he's further down the lake.

635
00:50:08,960 --> 00:50:11,634
Untimed and out of sight
of the timekeepers,

636
00:50:11,720 --> 00:50:14,280
he hits 320 miles per hour.

637
00:50:16,080 --> 00:50:18,196
Even though he uses
a powerful water brake,

638
00:50:18,280 --> 00:50:21,318
it still takes him nearly two miles
to slow down.

639
00:50:34,240 --> 00:50:36,356
CAMPBELL ON RADIO:
Bruce, do you read me? Over.

640
00:50:37,400 --> 00:50:40,870
Roger, skipper.
Tango, Tango, do you read? Over.

641
00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:43,919
MAN ON RADIO: Tango to base,
Tango to base, standby.

642
00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:47,718
NARRATOR: Everything hangs
on the timekeepers' calculations.

643
00:50:47,800 --> 00:50:51,031
Two hundred and fifty miles per hour
is their baseline.

644
00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:54,750
Campbell has gone through the course
at a plus 47,

645
00:50:54,840 --> 00:50:56,797
297 miles per hour.

646
00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:01,269
MAN ON RADIO: Tango to base,
message for skipper.

647
00:51:01,360 --> 00:51:06,116
Plus 47, plus 47, plus 47.

648
00:51:08,920 --> 00:51:12,914
NARRATOR: Now Campbell knows that
he only needs another 6 miles per hour

649
00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:15,992
on the return run,
and the record will be his.

650
00:51:16,320 --> 00:51:18,675
I'm starting to do the turn around now.

651
00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:24,117
NARRATOR: He doesn't pause to refuel
and heads back down the lake.

652
00:51:39,920 --> 00:51:44,073
Campbell accelerates hard, pitching over
the rough wake of his first run.

653
00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:48,476
He wants to be at full speed
when he enters the course.

654
00:51:49,040 --> 00:51:51,680
CAMPBELL ON RADIO: I'm going to try
another rush.

655
00:51:54,120 --> 00:51:57,033
(CAMPBELL CHATTERING ON RADIO)

656
00:52:01,080 --> 00:52:02,354
Full power.

657
00:52:03,640 --> 00:52:05,870
Throttle full on.

658
00:52:10,080 --> 00:52:12,594
I can't see.

659
00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:18,758
NARRATOR: He hits 318 miles per hour
as he passes the first marker.

660
00:52:20,840 --> 00:52:22,638
I can't see anything.

661
00:52:24,280 --> 00:52:26,271
I've got the bows up.

662
00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:28,393
I've gone!

663
00:52:38,880 --> 00:52:41,440
MAN 1 ON RADIO: Hello, Tango to base,
Tango to base. Over.

664
00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:44,876
MAN 2 ON RADIO: Base to Tango. Over.

665
00:52:47,840 --> 00:52:49,592
Base to Tango. Over.

666
00:52:51,360 --> 00:52:53,556
Tango to base, Tango to base.

667
00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:58,795
- Complete accident, I'm afraid. Over.
- Roger. Details? Over.

668
00:53:00,760 --> 00:53:03,878
No details as yet No details. Standby.

669
00:53:14,520 --> 00:53:16,716
NARRATOR: The rescue boats rushed
to the scene.

670
00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:19,269
But Bluebird has already sunk
beyond reach,

671
00:53:19,360 --> 00:53:22,716
plummeting 140 feet down
to the bottom of the lake.

672
00:53:25,080 --> 00:53:27,469
Floating wreckage
from the boat is recovered,

673
00:53:27,560 --> 00:53:31,793
along with Campbell's empty helmet,
his socks, shoes, a glove,

674
00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:36,078
his life jacket
and his lucky mascot Mr Woppit.

675
00:54:38,120 --> 00:54:40,270
I remember Campbell
saying to the press,

676
00:54:40,360 --> 00:54:43,193
"You know and I know why you are here."

677
00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:45,396
"And then he nodded."

678
00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:48,279
"But I, for one,
never wanted this ending."

679
00:54:49,120 --> 00:54:52,715
I walked back up the pier,
I took a last shot of his car,

680
00:54:52,800 --> 00:54:54,473
and I went home.

681
00:55:08,160 --> 00:55:10,436
I had to phone my story in.

682
00:55:11,120 --> 00:55:13,111
"I'd never wanted to listen
to those others"

683
00:55:13,200 --> 00:55:16,272
"who always said
this was the inevitable end."

684
00:55:16,360 --> 00:55:18,749
"But it was. He knew it"

685
00:55:19,680 --> 00:55:23,435
"He'd crashed his jet-car once
and I remember him telling me,"

686
00:55:23,520 --> 00:55:26,478
"I knew she was going.
I knew I was going."

687
00:55:27,920 --> 00:55:32,153
"It was nearly half-a-minute after
I lost her that we were in the air."

688
00:55:32,240 --> 00:55:34,550
"It was tremendously peaceful'"

689
00:55:35,680 --> 00:55:38,433
"Today when I heard him say,
Tm going,"

690
00:55:39,680 --> 00:55:42,035
"I knew those last few seconds
before the crash"

691
00:55:42,120 --> 00:55:47,035
"were probably the most peaceful
in the life of Donald Campbell, hero."

692
00:55:53,400 --> 00:55:55,336
NARRATOR: Campbell was awarded
the Queen's Commendation

693
00:55:55,360 --> 00:55:58,159
for Brave Conduct
a month after his death.

694
00:55:59,200 --> 00:56:02,352
John Lomax returned to film
Campbell's memorial

695
00:56:02,920 --> 00:56:05,309
on the green in Coniston village.

696
00:56:06,560 --> 00:56:08,790
Donald's mother, Lady Dorothy,

697
00:56:08,880 --> 00:56:11,474
unveiled a simple memorial to her son.

698
00:56:15,880 --> 00:56:17,632
(CAMPBELL SPEAKING)

699
00:56:28,680 --> 00:56:31,040
NARRATOR: For more than 30 years,
there has been speculation

700
00:56:31,120 --> 00:56:33,396
over the cause of Campbell's death.

701
00:56:33,480 --> 00:56:36,677
Some said an object in the water
caused the crash.

702
00:56:36,960 --> 00:56:39,376
But nothing floating would have been
heavy enough to cause the boat

703
00:56:39,400 --> 00:56:40,879
to somersault.

704
00:56:41,000 --> 00:56:43,640
Refuelling the boat would not have
affected its balance

705
00:56:43,720 --> 00:56:46,758
and Campbell had sufficient
for the return run.

706
00:56:47,120 --> 00:56:51,034
But Bluebird's engine had been plagued
by fuel supply problems,

707
00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:54,558
cutting out completely
on two earlier occasions.

708
00:56:55,320 --> 00:56:59,234
The accident was most likely
the result of fuel supply failure,

709
00:56:59,600 --> 00:57:03,639
compounded by the pitching motion
from the wake of the previous run.

710
00:57:03,720 --> 00:57:05,358
When the boat became airborne,

711
00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:08,876
there is clearly no jet-thrust
seen against the water.

712
00:57:10,720 --> 00:57:14,554
Campbell's boat, already unstable
and now robbed of forward thrust,

713
00:57:14,640 --> 00:57:18,873
flipped backwards as it hit
the now impenetrable wall of air

714
00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:21,634
before somersaulting back into the lake.

715
00:57:28,360 --> 00:57:30,670
It is difficult to accept
that Donald Campbell

716
00:57:30,760 --> 00:57:32,797
was carrying out a death wish.

717
00:57:32,880 --> 00:57:35,554
The shock in his voice was far foo real

718
00:57:35,960 --> 00:57:37,314
But tragically,

719
00:57:37,400 --> 00:57:40,836
his premonition of suffering
the same fate as Mary Queen of Scots

720
00:57:40,920 --> 00:57:42,399
was borne out.

721
00:57:43,200 --> 00:57:46,511
When his remains were finally recovered
in May 2001,

722
00:57:47,280 --> 00:57:50,955
it was clear that his head had taken
the full impact,

723
00:57:51,040 --> 00:57:54,237
as Bluebird's cockpit
collapsed against the water.

724
00:57:56,120 --> 00:57:58,350
MAN ON RADIO: Tango to base,
Tango to base.

725
00:57:58,440 --> 00:58:00,954
Complete accident, I'm afraid. Over.