Waterbird - Wings over Windermere

About

A free, permanent Exhibition. This fascinating Exhibition is compiled by The Lakes Flying Company Ltd, a registered charity, which organises public flying displays on Windermere of the 1911 floatplane replica Waterbird and provides information regarding Windermere’s heritage of aviation. The replica is unique in the world for its era.

The main room includes a short video of the flights of this award-winning wood, fabric and bamboo floatplane replica. Around the walls, the display, illustrated by photos from 1911, relates the pioneering story of the building of the floatplane and the early flights, continuing with the second, two-seater floatplane, Waterhen, built in 1912. Details of the pilots and early passengers are outlined and of the Royal Naval Air Station at Hill of Oaks in WW1, which lead the visitor on to why Short Sunderland flying boats were assembled at White Cross Bay in WW2.

Many important aviation ‘firsts’ were accomplished at Windermere, which are listed. A board features the replica Waterbird which first flew from the lake in 2022, for which the spectator area for flying displays is at Brockhole. An intriguing section for young visitors is in the first part of the Exhibition. This includes an interactive wall of activities demonstrating the requirements for recruits to the Royal Flying Corps in 1912. There is a retro-phone with a recorded message of Captain Edward Wakefield’s dream in 1909 to build and fly a floatplane, at a time when nobody in the world had succeeded. The Exhibition also includes original artwork and archive materials.

‘Waterbird’s Big Book’ is a very special metre square floor book for younger children to enjoy and is available to borrow from the Library’s reception.

A children’s book, ‘Waterbird’s Story’, which is attractively illustrated in colour throughout and includes puzzles, is for sale at reception.

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