Lakes Flying Company
| Company type | Aircraft manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Defunct | 1914 |
| Fate | Acquired by Northern Aircraft Company Limited |
| Successor | Northern Aircraft Company Limited |
Key people | Captain Edward Wakefield John Lankester Parker |
| Products | Seaplanes (Lakes Water Bird, Water Hen, Sea Bird, Hydro-monoplane) |
| Services | Pleasure flights, Pilot instruction (The Seaplane School) |
The Lakes Flying Company was a pioneering British manufacturer of seaplanes operating from Windermere. In 1914, it was absorbed by the Northern Aircraft Company Limited.
In 2010, a registered charity named The Lakes Flying Company Ltd was created with the mission to honor and educate the public about the significant innovations made by Captain Edward Wakefield and the Waterbird in advancing naval and civil marine aviation.
History
The inaugural aircraft produced by the Lakes Flying Company was the Lakes Water Bird, which achieved its maiden flight on 25 November 1911. Unfortunately, it was lost in March 1912 following the collapse of its hangar during a severe storm. The Water Bird holds the distinction of being the first British seaplane to achieve success. Subsequently, two additional models were developed: the Water Hen and Sea Bird. The company's final creation was the Hydro-monoplane. These seaplanes offered numerous recreational flights over the lake for public enjoyment. In November 1914, Northern Aircraft Company acquired the business, expanded the lakeside facilities, and continued both pilot training—marketed as The Seaplane School—and pleasure flights.
Among the pilots associated with Northern Aircraft Company was John Lankester Parker, who later advanced to become Chief Test Pilot for Short Brothers in Rochester, Kent and subsequently in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Aircraft
- 1911 Lakes Water Bird
- 1912 Lakes Water Hen
- 1912 Lakes Sea Bird
- 1914 Lakes Hydro-monoplane
Notes
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<ref> tag with name "smith" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Smith, Ron (2005). British Built Aircraft – Volume 6 Northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Stroud, Gloucestershire, England: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-3487-X.