Flying Boat Falcon
A Slingsby Falcon glider (BGA 266) was converted to a 'flying boat glider' in 1943. There appear to be conflicting stories of why it came into being.
The Museums guidebook states ' Captain T.C. Pattinson DFC, agreed to develop the glider on learning from Francis Short of Short Brothers of their difficulties in constructing a small military glider to take off and land on water where the terrain would make use of a conventional glider impossible'. It must remembered that Shorts had a large factory building flying boats at Culgaith on Lake Windermere during the 2nd World War. This tend to lend credence to some thought in internet forums that the craft was developed to test the viability of water-borne gliders for 'clandestine' operations. However, in the article by W.W. Wakefield director of the Air Training Corp below it states 'he arranged for delivery of the glider to Cpt. Pattinson' and does not allude to any involvement with Shorts, and rather suggests that the glider was developed for 'recreational use' by the ATC. Indeed if one reads the article - you get the impression he flew the craft. Is this a cover story?
The Museums guidebook continues:-
'With an intimate knowledge of seaplanes gained in distinguished service with the RNAS during the First World War T.C. Pattinson set to work to modify a Falcon glider. He carefully designed a stepped hull to enable the glider to be towed by a speedboat until sufficient speed was attained to make the glider soar to a good height before dropping the tow wire. Skilled joiners at the Windermere firm of G.H. Pattinson Ltd (Builders) carried out the work to the hull and wing floats, before transporting the glider to Short's Sunderland Flying Boat Factory, Calgarth for the flight test.
Earlier disasters experienced by Short's caused T.C. Pattinson to insist that only he, as designer, should undertake the hazardous test flight. On the cold morning of February 3rd, 1943, the glider sped across the lake behind a speedboat until the glider became airborne. Disaster was narrowly averted when the drag of the tow wire trailing in the water threatened to nose-dive the glider, however the wire was successfully released and the glider soared serenely across the lake and above the surrounding hills.The glider then successfully landed on the lake, Despite the historic success of the prototype, the opportunity never presented itself for similar gliders to be built.'
So was the glider flown by others -i.e. W.W. Wakefield? Apparently, however, it only flew a couple of times. The aircraft survives today. For a long time it was on display at the Windermere Steamboat Museum (the author of this website remembers seeing it on a visit) although the wings are not original, it’s understood they are Tutor wings (Type 8) salvaged from a hangar at Walney Island, the present day home of the Lakes Gliding Club. It’s in storage whilst the museum is redeveloped. Once the new museum building is finished the Falcon will have pride of place being suspended above the main exhibition space. In 1973, on the thirtieth anniversary of the flight, the Post Office issued a commemorative one day cover and franking, stamped on letters posted out of Windermere.
References
The following is sourced from the "Vintage Glider News", issue no.83, Winter 1994/5:
From Peter Moran, 7b Park Rd, West Kirby, Wirral, LAB4DN
On a recent visit to the Windermere Steamboat Museum I spotted a Slingsby Falcon 2 [sic] converted to a flying boat hung from the ceiling. Here are the details taken from the Museum's guide book.
Builder, Slingsby (Falcon 2)
Modified, G.H. Pattinson Ltd, Windermere
Fuselage, 16 ft
Wing span, 42 ft
In 1911, Windermere saw the first aircraft to take off water. It is appropriate therefore that, in 1943 Windermere should have also pioneered the world's first glider to take off water. Captain T.C. Pattinson DFC, agreed to develop the glider on learning from Francis Short of Short Brothers of their difficulties in constructing a small military glider to take off and land on water where the terrain would make use of a conventional glider impossible.
With an intimate knowledge of seaplanes gained in distinguished service with the RNAS during the First World War T.C. Pattinson set to work to modify a Falcon 2 glider. He carefully designed a stepped hull to enable the glider to be towed by a speedboat until sufficient speed was attained to make the glider soar to a good height before dropping the tow wire. Skilled joiners at the Windermere firm of G.H. Pattinson Ltd (Builders) carried out the work to the hull and wing floats, before transporting the glider to Short's Sunderland Flying Boat Factory, Calgarth for the flight test.
Earlier disasters experienced by Short's caused T.C. Pattinson to insist that only he, as designer, should undertake the hazardous test flight. On the cold morning of February 3rd, 1943, the glider sped across the lake behind a speedboat until the glider became airborne. Disaster was narrowly averted when the drag of the tow wire trailing in the water threatened to nose-dive the glider, however the wire was successfully released and the glider soared serenely across the lake and above the surrounding hills.
The glider then successfully landed on the lake, Despite the historic success of the prototype, the opportunity never presented itself for similar gliders to be built. In 1973, on the thirtieth anniversary of the flight, the Post Office issued a commemorative one day cover and franking, stamped on letters posted out of Windermere.
So, to fully answer the questions posed by Doc, it was modified by T.C. Pattinson, with the actual work being done by the firm of G.H. Pattinson, at Windermere, in order to create a military glider that could operate in places where conventional gliders could not.
Vintage Glider Club News" - No.83 Winter 1994/5 (http://www.lakesgc.co.uk/mainwebpages/VGC%20News%201973-2003/No_83_Winter_1994_5.pdf) (pdf)