A replica of the UK’s first hydro-aeroplane made its first water-borne take off from Windermere this week.
The secret trial flight marked the successful climax of a 13-year project to create an exact copy of the iconic Waterbird, which made her original historic flight on November 25 1911.
The project has faced delays due to technical issues, weather, the pandemic and safety issues. Trials in spring last year had to be abandoned due to difficulties getting the plane to take off from the lake.
But this week all disappointments were forgotten as it became airborne at the first attempt.
Ian Gee, director of Wings Over Windermere, said it had taken rather longer than everyone hoped to achieve this week’s flights. He said: “I was totally bewildered when it took off at the first attempt. I was lost for words.
“The trials include taxiing across the water, but the pilot combined all the manoeuvres in one go.”
Pilot Peter Kynsey, who runs a seaplane business from Rochester Airport, said he was filled with confidence when he realised how well the replica responded.
“This is a fantastic project and I couldn’t wait to take the replica Waterbird into the air,” he said.
The replica has been built from Douglas fir, spruce wood, bamboo and wires, the same materials used to construct the original seaplane. The 35ft aircraft has a wingspan of 40ft and weighs 800lb.
One of the challenges for the team behind the project has been to remain faithful to the original construction, while meeting modern health and safety rules.
Mr Gee said that after the 2021 trials were abandoned, the team – which includes local aviation heritage enthusiasts Kate Tripp, Adrian Legge, Paul Wrobel and Rob Caddick – sought advice from aviation specialists from further afield.
As a result, the design of the underside of the main float was altered and the angle of attack between the aeroplane and the main float was increased.
“As a result, Waterbird proved to be perfectly balanced, taking off and landing at 35 knots and achieving a speed of 45 knots,” said Mr Gee.
Operating from a temporary hangar on the west shore of Windermere’s south basin, the new Waterbird had to prove it complied with Light Aircraft Association requirements.
It then completed a formal flight test schedule, culminating in successful flights on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
A full public demonstration can now go ahead on September 22 and 23 this year.
Special permission for the trials was granted by the Lake District National Park Authority, whose officers provided significant assistance and guidance, as did staff at South Lakeland District Council, Environment Agency and South Cumbria Rivers Trust, said Mr Gee.
Precautions against fuel spillage, biohazards and noise pollution were taken.
The ultimate aim of Wings Over Windermere is to display Waterbird in a heritage centre on the lake shore, where it is hoped that regular flights might be arranged.
Waterbird history
The original Waterbird was built by A V Roe and Company, Ancoats, Manchester, and adapted using floats designed by Captain Edward Wakefield which allowed it to take off and land on water.
Beatrix Potter opposed the noisy test flights of the seaplanes near her home in the Lake District and started a campaign to have them banned.
Her campaign was overruled by the Government, including the then First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, who regarded the test flights as vital to developing the nation’s air forces.
His support ensured planes were available to fight off the Zeppelins during World War One and later played a key part in the development of the Royal Air Force.
The idea of making a replica was first mooted by Richard Raynsford, the great, great nephew of Captain Wakefield and the cudgels were taken up by Lancaster solicitor Ian Gee, now retired, who lives in South Lakeland.
He said: “I had always had a passion for seaplanes and knew all about the Sunderland factory on Windermere in the Second World War.
“But I had no idea about these pre-First World War planes which had such an influential role in the history of flying.”
Mr Gee, himself a pilot, is director of The Lakes Flying Company, which was set up after blueprints from the original designs were found in A V Roe company archives and work was started on making the replica plane.
Former RAF serviceman Gerry Cooper started building the replica at Wickenby Airfield in Lincolnshire. He eventually managed to take a short flight, taking off from land.
But Mr Cooper, now 80, retired and others have had to complete the work of making it capable of taking off from the water.
The replica Waterbird is normally stored at John Lennon Airport, Liverpool, in a private hangar.
