Lake Windermere 2022
Note: This map only shows the area on Lake Windermere where these flight trials took place.
LAKE WINDERMERE: Experimental seaplane flights
Period of operation: 2022 to -
Note: The picture of Waterhen about to be launched was taken by Anne Hughes and published in the June 2023 edition of Light Aviation magazine.
A MOST REMARKABLE PROJECT
It appears that the first glimmers of the project dates back to around 2008, and it soon started taking shape. This being to create a replica, as close to the original as possible, of the Waterbird, an Avro version of a Curtiss biplane from the USA.
It was far from easy, and much had to learnt along the way. Plus of course subtle modifications to the airframe to render it safe to fly under modern standards. In the early days it was fairly common for aeroplanes to fall apart once airborne, even when not undertaking anything like stressful manouevres. This said, I have yet to find any record of a seaplane, (or hydroplane as they were then called), coming to grief over Lake Windermere.
It appears the first test flights took place in 2022, and revealed that the aeroplane's flying characteristics were far from satisfactory. When the next test flights occurred in 2023 the Waterbird was flying much better. Considerable public interest was aroused, but on the public display in the evening, after completing one circuit, the modern Rotec radial engine, with about five hours 'on the clock' suffered a catastrophic failure.
Enthusiasm for the project continuing to fly from Lake Windermere is undiminished, so hopefully it will be seen flying here for many years to come.
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