We celebrate International Women’s Day by saluting Gertrude Bacon, who on 15 July 1912 at Windermere became the first woman in the world to fly in a hydro-aeroplane. This is an extract from our children’s book Waterbird’s Story.

A book written for children aged 7 years and older, based on the design of the Big Book with full-page illustrations throughout and additional puzzle pages, is now available to buy.

A 445mm x 890mm book has been created which tells the story of Waterbird, the first aeroplane to take off successfully from water in the UK, and how a replica was made – and flew – over a century later. The Big Book will be kept at Windermere Library downstairs with...

The Clerget engine used by Oscar Gnosspelius in Gnosspelius No. 2 at Windermere is now on display at the Lakeland Motor Museum, in the Campbell Bluebird building, with details of its remarkable survival story.

The story behind the poster for Wings Over Windermere 2024 is related in this article which will be published shortly in the Guild of Aviation Artists’ Quarterly News magazine.

We are delighted to announce that Flying Displays will take place on 5th and 6th September 2025, subject to Permissions being granted by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Lake District National Park Authority. For details, please click here.

A review of the book on Waterbird and this website is contained in the Autumn/ Winter issue of The Catalina News. 'Waterbird Wings Over Windermere is a superb history of the original seaplane and the project to return a replica Waterbird to the air. The regularly...

The original Waterbird took the entire front page of the Aeroplane magazine on 25 January 1912.  This article about the replica appeared in the November 2024 edition.

The replica Waterbird was flown by Navy Wings and Royal Navy pilot Lt Cdr Chris Götke AFC. Here is his Report and a photo of him with Jane Puckering. Jane is the daughter of John Lankester Parker who was a flying instructor at Windermere 1915-1916 and test-flew the...

Along with a flypast by a Lancaster bomber and a flying display by an Aviat Husky seaplane, against sunset over the Langdale Pikes, the replica Waterbird carried out spectacular flights.

On 6th September 2024 at 6.00-6.10pm 5.45pm a flypast will take place of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Avro Lancaster, centred off Brockhole. This is particularly relevant in that Waterbird was built as a landplane by Avro at Manchester in 1911.

Our exhibition at Windermere Library, first floor, is now open. It is the first permanent exhibition recording the vital role played by Windermere in the history of the development of seaplanes. Opening Times:- Monday: 10am - 1pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10am -...

Here is the poster for Wings Over Windermere 2024.

We continue to increase our works of art with this latest item. It is associated with the members of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club killed in World War 1.

See the replica Waterbird take flight on 6th and 7th September 2024! The team are delighted to announce this award-winning replica seaplane will again take to the air. - Flights are subject to permission being granted by the Lake District National Park Authority to...