A REPLICA of the UK’s first successful seaplane is receiving national awards.
The Waterbird project will return to Windermere and hope to create a heritage centre to mark the key part the lake played in the history of seaplanes.
After 12 years of development, Waterbird’s replica finally took off from the lake in private trials in June 2022.
On Friday, September 23, it made several short flights in front of hundreds of spectators on Rawlinson Nab.
Achieving four flights of about half a mile each, it reached about 50 mph and rising 50 feet above the water.
Pilot Pete Kynsey said: “Everyone one of the flights was a delight to do. The conditions were perfect. It was like a relaxed day out.”
Lakes Flying Company, the charity behind the project, has won:
- The Bremont Special Recognition Award from the National Transport Trust
- The Robert Pleming Memorial Award for Innovation from Aviation Heritage UK, which commemorates the inspirational chief executive of the Vulcan to the Sky charity, who died in January 2021
- The Desmond Penrose Silver Salver for vintage aeroplane of the year from the Vintage Aircraft Club, which commemorates a Royal Aircraft Establishment test pilot.
Ian Gee, Chairman of the Lakes Flying Company, said: "The build of the replica Waterbird commenced in 2010 and was flown both as a landplane and then a seaplane.
“Nothing had prepared me for the trials at Windermere in June 2022 when success was achieved at the first take-off run.
“The awards reflect the tremendous work carried out by the Waterbird team to reach the goal of public flights at Windermere.
“We are already planning to return next year, this time in the northern part of the lake, subject to permission from the Lake District National Park Authority
“The replica is back at Liverpool Airport, but we very much want to establish a centre at Windermere."
Apart from a modern engine, Waterbird faithfully recreates the detail of the original seaplane from 1911.
The replica has been constructed from wood, bamboo and wires: the same materials used to construct the original seaplane.
The 35ft long aircraft, has a wingspan of 40ft and weighs just 1000lb, it is powered by a Rotec 2800 radial engine, substituting for the original 50hp Gnome Rotary.
One of the challenges for the team behind the project had been to remain faithful to the original construction, while meeting modern health and safety rules.
Waterbird was the first seaplane to successfully fly in the UK, commissioned by Captain Edward Wakefield from A. V. Roe & Co (‘Avro’), of Ancoats, Manchester, as a landplane and converted to a seaplane at Windermere, where the pilot was Herbert Stanley Adams.
Her original historic flight was on November 25, 1911.
Captain Wakefield developed Waterbird to take off and land on water which was seen as being less dangerous to pilots in pre-war flights.
His great nephew Sir Humphry Wakefield, of Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, was among the crowd who saw the public flight.
He said: “I am thrilled to have his memorial made real in Waterbird.”
Retired Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham of Navy Wings, a charity which commemorates British Naval Aviation History, said: “To deliver a project like this is a huge achievement, with technological challenges not faced for more than 100 years.”
Another attendee was Sir Ben Bathurst, former First Sea Lord, and President of the Lakes Flying Company, who said: “This has been a wonderful project to replicate this beautiful aircraft and demonstrate the fragility of early aviation.
“I congratulate the persistence and skill of all those involved.”
A documentary on the Waterbird project is due to be shown at 9 pm on Thursday, December 1, on More4 channel.
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