Lake District: Replica of UK’s first seaplane to soar over Windermere

The displays will take place from Windermere where Waterbird was originally developed and tested back in 1911. 

Ian Gee, chair of Lakes Flying Company, which was behind the ten-year project to build an exact replica of Waterbird, said: “Our third round of flying displays will take place on Windermere, Waterbird’s original home, on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th September from 7:00pm. 

“Spectators will also enjoy a flying display by a second, more modern seaplane, the Aviat Husky, showing the long legacy that Waterbird inspired.” 

Wings over Windermere poster (Image: Submitted)

Retired solicitor Mr Gee added: “This demonstration will take place further up the lake than the first flights with viewing points at Brockhole on Windermere, framing the Waterbird against the magnificent Langdale Pikes. 

“Waterbird is the only replica seaplane of its era anywhere in the world. Apart from the modern engine/ propeller, it faithfully recreates the detail of the original Waterbird from 1911, when it was the first seaplane to successfully fly in the UK. 

“The Waterbird demonstrations will be brief but breath-taking. Please remember that this is a delicate, historic aeroplane, and that this is a demonstration of its remarkable capabilities, not an aerobatic flying display. 

During each sequence, Waterbird will take off from the water, fly at up to 100 feet in a straight line along the lake, then land on the water, showing the remarkable capabilities of this early seaplane, he added. 

In previous flights of the replica Waterbird, in September 2022 and May 2023, the pilot was historic aeroplane expert Peter Kynsey. 

The pilot this year will be Lieutenant Commander Chris Gotke, a serving Royal Navy pilot who holds the Air Force Cross. He is the Fixed Wing [as distinct from helicopters] Commander at the Empire Test Pilots’ School, of which he is a graduate. 

The flights are subject to weather and other safety issues so details of their status can be checked at: https://www.waterbird.org.uk 

Full details of the Public Flying Displays for spectators and lake users are at: https://www.waterbird.org.uk/wings-over-windermere-2024/ 

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are hopefully to perform a flypast at 6:50pm on September 6 but are presently grounded following an accident. 

The dates coincide with Airshows at Ayr and Portrush and it is hoped that participating aeroplanes will perform flypasts at Windermere whilst in transit. 

The poster promoting the flights is designed by David Calow. 

The first permanent exhibition recording the vital role played by Windermere in the history of the development of aeroplanes is now open at Windermere Library. 

It explains how the first flights taking off from water in the UK happened on the lake and how this later led to the building of a flying boat factory on its shores during the Second World War. 

An official opening on August 27 will be performed by Carl Warner, head of Narrative and Curatorial at the Imperial War Museum. 

The exhibition displays will be adjacent to the From Auschwitz to Ambleside exhibition at Windermere Library, which highlights how 300 children who survived the Nazi death camps were flown to Carlisle at the end of the war and settled in the Calgarth Estate, on the shores of Windermere. 

The two events are linked as the children occupied the temporary accommodation just vacated by workers at the Short Brothers factory which built the Sunderland flying boats during the Second World War. 

The exhibition will highlight the exploits of Captain E W Wakefield, who initiated the development in the UK of aeroplanes able to take off from water and copyrighted the “stepped” float which made it possible. 

The exhibition is now open. Entry is free.