Airframe Designs to play key role in world water speed record attempt

Aerospace engineering leader Airframe Designs has become a key partner on an ambitious project to break the world water speed record.

The Longbow jet hydroplane project is a collaboration between more than 60 organisations under the banner Jet Hydroplane UK. The ambitious group is aiming to build a new nine-metre hydroplane in an attempt to break the current world record of 317.58 mph, set by Australian Ken Warby in the Spirit of Australia in 1978.

The project is being led by David Aldred, an engineer based in Thornton Cleveleys near Blackpool, who was involved in restoring Donald Campbell’s renowned Bluebird K7 hydroplane craft after it was raised from Coniston Water in 2001.

The partnership means Blackpool-based Airframe Designs will work with design engineer Paul Martin, a former McLaren F1 engineer, who has also worked on previous world speed record attempts. Alongside Paul, Airframe will use its design engineering expertise to convert initial designs for both the inner steel cage and outer composite shell for Longbow’s cockpit into advanced 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) models.

This will then allow the cockpit to be manufactured by partners including Midlands-based Accles & Pollock, which also manufactured the frame of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 back in 1954.

Jerrod Hartley, CEO, Airframe Designs said: “The current world water speed record has stood for almost 50 years. To be invited to be part of this attempt, which is being led here in Lancashire and involves so many innovative and industry-leading companies, is a real testament to our engineering expertise.

“The partnership with Paul will combine our knowledge of precision aerospace engineering with Paul’s understanding of building record-breaking vehicles to ensure that Longbow’s structure meets rigorous engineering standards, reinforcing the project’s credibility and safety.”

The partnership with Jet Hydroplane UK follows an initial meeting between project lead David Aldred and Airframe Designs’ CEO Jerrod Hartley, operations director Chris Fleet and design engineer James Hodgkiss to learn more about the Longbow project and how to develop the craft’s designs.

David said: “I’ve known Jerrod for a number of years and he got in touch after seeing an article about the project. I invited him and members of the team to come and see the craft and that meeting turned into a technical deep dive into Longbow’s build, culminating in Airframe Designs joining officially as an engineering partner.

“The company’s huge experience, particularly in the aerospace sector, will bring a different dimension to the expertise we already have on board from across the globe, helping us to finalise the cockpit’s designs and move the project forward.”

Once built, Southport-born RAF pilot David-John Gibbs will pilot the hydroplane to attempt to break the record on waters in the Lake District.

Airframe Designs is based at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and provides specialist engineering and advanced manufacturing services to a range of industries including aviation, defence, space, medical, motorsport, nuclear and rail. This includes mechanical design, structural analysis, certification and manufacturing including additive manufacturing.