WINDERMERE AVIATION TIMELINE: 1909 – 2023

The first aeroplane floats with a ‘step‘ in the world were designed and tested by Gnosspelius, constructed by Borwick & Sons, on Gnosspelius No. 1. – Statutory Declaration, 11 January 1913.

​Wakefield commissioned a landplane from A. V. Roe & Company, which was constructed at Brownsfield Mills, Manchester. The drawings, dated ‘9.3.11.’, are the oldest surviving of any Avro aeroplane.

Gnosspelius made the second successful take-off outside France and the USA by a hydro-aeroplane/ the second successful take-off in the world with a stepped float/ the first successful take-off at Windermere, in Gnosspelius No. 2. – The Westmorland Gazette, 21 December 1911.

Gnosspelius No. 2 was the first British hydro-aeroplane to employ auxiliary wingtip floats. – The History of British Aviation 1908-1914 by R D Brett.

Lieutenant Arthur Longmore (later Air Chief Marshal Sir) was the first member of the Royal Navy to take off and land a hydro-aeroplane/ the first member of the Royal Navy to fly at Windermere/ the only person other than Adams to fly Waterbird, when he test-flew Waterbird for the Admiralty and compiled a Report © Trustees of the National Museum of the Royal Navy; his arrival having been kept a secret.

Gnosspelius made the first successful take-off and landing in the world by a hydro-monoplane of ‘normal‘ type/ the first in Britain by a hydro-monoplane of any type in Gnosspelius No. 2. – The Aeroplane magazine, 29 February 1912.

He was the only person at Windermere to design and fly his own hydro-aeroplane.

Waterbird was rendered beyond economic repair when the hangar collapsed at Cockshott.

60 flights on 38 different days, the furthest for 20 miles, had been accomplished and 800 feet attained. – The Aeroplane magazine, 25 January 1912.

The first passenger to fly in a hydro-aeroplane in Britain was Wakefield in Waterhen [Waterbird’s successor]. – The Aeroplane magazine, 9 May 1912.

By the end of 1912, about 300 fare-paying passengers had been carried.

Wakefield became the first person in the world to fly as a passenger in a hydro-monoplane, an Admiralty Deperdussin. – Letter to Wakefield from Charles Grey, Editor of The Aeroplane magazine, 17 July 1912.

The Deperdussin had been converted from a landplane at Windermere, in compliance with an Agreement between the Admiralty and Wakefield which was subject to the Official Secrets Act.

An Admiralty representative came to Windermere to observe a new method of transmitting wireless messages from air to surface.

Wakefield obtained UK Patent No. 27,770 for the means of attaching a float to a hydro-aeroplane.

Trotter was granted an Aviator’s Certificate by the Royal Aero Club (‘RAeC’) No. 360 – this image is of the RAeC’s index card. Trotter was the first person/ first member of the Army to achieve a UK Certificate with tests taken on a hydro-aeroplane.

‘Letter from Wakefield, of 21 February 1912, with regard to Hydro-aeroplane Certificates was read. It was unanimously resolved to grant provisional Certificates in respect of tests carried out on hydro-aeroplanes, such certificates to be subject to confirmation by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (‘FAI’)’. – Minutes of Executive Committee of the RAeC, 27 February 1912. Confirmation by the FAI was made at its Conference on 15 and 16 March 1912.

The only occasion when a Windermere-based hydro-aeroplane operated outside of the Lake District, save for flights in 1919 to/ from the Isle of Man. Having been transported by traction engine, Waterhen was flown by Adams at Hornsea Mere, near the Yorkshire coast, for Hornsea Horse Show. Passengers, on the first ever flights from the Mere, were taken up at £2 a time. – Hull Daily Mail, 12 June 1913.

The first UK Hydro-aeroplane Certificate No. 614 was awarded to The Lakes Flying Company’s pupil James Bland, and on 15 April 1914 the second Certificate No. 765 to Oswald Lancaster.

On 28 January 1913, Wakefield had accompanied the RAeC representatives at an Extraordinary Conference of the FAI held in Paris. ‘The FAI decided that ordinary Aviators’ Certificates should be valid for flights over both land and water. It was further decided that Certificates should be granted in respect of tests over water, but that such Certificates should not be valid for flights over land.’ – Minutes of Executive Committee of the RAeC, 4 February 1913.

Also at that Conference, the Schneider Trophy for an annual international hydro-aeroplane contest was accepted and the rules passed.

Gnosspelius obtained UK Patent No. 10,801 for a V shaped float. This gave a sharper angle, reduced drag and was advantageous for structural reasons and for aerial considerations.

The V shape is used on almost every float manufactured today.

The first seaplane (Waterhen) to alight on Esthwaite Water, flown by John Lankester Parker with pupil John Coats.

The term ‘seaplane’ was coined by Churchill when he answered a question in the Commons on 17 July 1913.

The school was taken over by the Government, so that training operations at Cockshott and Hill of Oaks became Royal Naval Air Service Unit Hill of Oaks.

RNAS Windermere was inspected by the First Sea Lord, Sir Henry Jackson.

On 20 May 1917, 2 ex-pupils, Flight Sub-Lieutenants Charles Morrish and Henry Boswell, were the pilots of Curtiss H-12 Large America 8663 flying boat near Flushing in the North Sea, operating under the ‘Spider Web’ system of searching for submarines. Bombs were dropped on a U-boat, which was ‘the first submarine sunk by the Royal Naval Air Service.’ – The Royal Navy Day by Day by L Phillips. Both were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on 22 June 1917.

Within the same list, ex-pupil Flight Sub-Lieutenant Charles McNicoll was also awarded the DSC, for his services in convoy protection and combatting submarines whilst stationed at RNAS Dundee.

Adams (then Squadron Commander) was awarded the DSC for services in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Captain Cooper Pattinson, from Windermere, whilst based at RNAS Killingholme shot down a Zeppelin over Heligoland Bight. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, amongst the first list of recipients in the London Gazette. On 1 May 1918, he had been Mentioned in Despatches.

The first list of Distinguished Flying Crosses ‘gazetted’ also included ex-pupils Captain Harold Gonyon, for bombing a U-boat near Dunkirk on 3 April, and Captain Victor Bessette, for services over the North Sea.

(The DFC was instituted after formation of the Royal Air Force as the equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross for acts of valour at sea: between the level of these awards and the Victoria Cross is the Distinguished Service Order.)

Flight Officer William Dickson’s first appointment was on 11 November 1916 as a pupil at Windermere. – High Commanders of the Royal Air Force by Air Commodore H Probert. Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 21 September 1918 for having taken part on 19 July in the first strike from an aircraft carrier (returning aircraft would have to ditch in the sea), when 7 Sopwith Camels from HMS Furious attacked airship sheds at Tondern, Denmark. The senior flying officer of Furious was Lieutenant Colonel Richard Bell Davies VC, DSO. ‘The most outstandingly successful carrier operation of the war’. – Naval Aviation in the First World War by R D Layman. He became Marshal of the RAF Sir; the first Chief of the Air Staff to have begun his career as a Naval pilot and the last to have served in World War 1.

An attack on Tondern had been recommended by Captain Oliver Swann (later Air Vice-Marshal Sir), commanding officer of aircraft carrier HMS Campania. On 18 November 1911, he took off in an Avro D from Cavendish Dock, Barrow-in-Furness. The choice of aircraft was discussed with Longmore (then Wing Commander serving in the Admiralty Air Department) when he visited Campania.

Seaplanes returned to Windermere with the arrival of an Avro 504K operated by the Avro Transport Company and flown by Howard Pixton (later Captain), with a second the following week. They were based at the Cockshott hangar. The enterprise included joyriding flights which had been pioneered by Waterhen, passenger flights, instruction and delivery of newspapers to the Isle of Man.

The first fare-paying passenger from or to the Isle of Man, flown by Pixton.

Supermarine Southampton Mk. II S1228 of 204 Squadron landed en route from Oban to RAF Mount Batten, Devon.

Parker test-flew the first Windermere-assembled Short Sunderland flying boat (No. DP176), 26 years after he last flew at Windermere.

35 Sunderlands were built at White Cross Bay through to May 1944 when the factory became a Civilian Repair Organisation. Then they were repaired and about 25 were refurbished in 1945.

3 Consolidated Catalina flying boats landed in late 1944, and in the first part of 1945.

Tiger Moth G-AIVW landed at Low Wood Bay, departing the following day.

Sunderland G-BJHS, known as Islander, stayed until 17 July.

Replica Waterbird G-WBRD first flew, 110 years since the original last did so and 28 years since the previous seaplane at the lake.

Wings Over Windermere:

Aviat Husky G-WATR stayed until 13 May and carried out a public flying display on 12 May.