In late 1935, Sir Malcolm Campbell decided to challenge the water speed record. At that point he had two Napier Lions and one Rolls-Royce R engine, "R37" at his disposal, and it was decided to install the R engine in "Blue Bird K3". During trials on Loch Lomond in June 1937 the engine was "slightly damaged ... because of trouble with the circulating water system". In August 1937 "Blue Bird K3" was taken to Lake Maggiore in Italy where "the modified system worked perfectly with a second engine", "R39".