OUR VISION
The Lakes Flying Company Limited – a registered charity – has been set up to celebrate and to inform the public concerning the importance of the innovative contributions made to the development of naval and civil marine aeroplanes by Captain Edward Wakefield and by Waterbird®.
On 25 November 1911, at Windermere, Waterbird became the first aeroplane to successfully take off from and alight on water outside of France and the USA.
It was the world’s first successful flight to use a ‘stepped’ float, which was patented by Wakefield after two years of considerable experiment.
OUR OBJECTIVES
THE CHARITABLE OBJECTS OF THE LAKES FLYING COMPANY LIMITED ARE TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC BY:-
- The establishment and maintenance of a heritage centre, that will tell the story of early powered seaplanes with the emphasis on the history of their early development and their activities in and around Windermere and the Lake District;
- The construction, displays and flights of an airworthy replica of Waterbird;
- Exhibiting the replica of Waterbird in perpetuity, and
- Providing historical and technical information regarding the historical context and design of Waterbird.
THE REPLICA WATERBIRD
The replica Waterbird has flown as a seaplane.
The building in the background is Storrs Hall Hotel.
The prestigious Phoenix Group Diploma for 2018 was awarded to the builder and team for ‘their remarkable achievement in building a faithful replica of Waterbird’ by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale – the World Air Sports Federation.
FOR AN INTERACTIVE 3D MODEL, click here
ADOPT A PART SCHEME
We have established an Adopt a Part Scheme
QUOTES
HISTORY
The golden age of the lake was from the late 19th century until the early 20th century. It featured steam boats and hydro-aeroplanes: this montage of Waterhen flying over steam cargoboat Raven, which operated at the lake 1871-1922, ‘evokes something of the drama of the time and the growing ascendance of the petrol engine over steam’. – The Great Age of Steam on Windermere by G H Pattinson. Waterbird was built in 1911; the same year as steam launch Swallow, which is the sister ship of Osprey and Shamrock – the builder of all three boats was Shepherd’s of Bowness-on-Windermere. When a Sunderland flying boat (1990) and a Catalina flying boat (1994) visited the lake, Shamrock acted as tender.
FLOATS
On 25 November 1911, at Windermere, Waterbird made the first successful flight in the world to use a ‘stepped’ float, only achieved by embodying Edward Wakefield‘s two years of persistent experiments. The pilot was Herbert Stanley Adams. This telegram confirms the initial flights.
PEOPLE
PLACES
TRIBUTE
Grateful acknowledgement is given to author Peter Connon, who was a Director and Trustee of the Lakes Flying Company Ltd., without whom the story of Windermere pilots would have been lost forever – he gave voice to their testimony.
Waterbird News
Waterbird Has Successfully Flown As A Seaplane
We are delighted to announce that the replica Waterbird has successfully flown as a seaplane. Putting the 1911 replica Waterbird in perspective in relation to other current airworthy examples of seaplanes in the world - original or replica, there is nothing else...
Canadian Pilots
Now there is a page on our website in tribute to the 14 Canadians who in 1916 trained to be seaplane pilots at Royal Naval Air Station Windermere. Please visit the Canadian Pilots page.
Waterbird 110 year Anniversary
Today, it is 110 years since the first flight of Waterbird at Windermere. For a Timeline, please click here
You can support the charity as you shop with amazon!
It's so easy to do, with no extra cost to you! Sign in with your usual account details to smile.amazon.co.uk on your desktop or mobile phone browser. Go to your account and select the option to add The Lakes Flying Company as your chosen charity!