Waco airplanes can bt' divided into the Model 10, and thereafter by three S ·Pratt & Whitney Wasp Jr., 420- three basic groups. "Cabin Biplanes," letter designations The first letter in 450 hp "Open Biplanes," and "Others." It's dicated the engine installed, the sec T Kinner R-5, 160 hp ea~y to identify the first group's mem ond stood for the wing design, and U Continental R-670, 210·225 hp bers. Just learn what a Staggerwing the third was an airframe symbol. V Continental R-670, 225-250 hp Beech loolo.s l1ke, and if the cabin Prior to 1930, Waco used the fol W Wright R-975E2, 440 hp bipe you're looking at doesn't look lowing (first) letters to designate en Y jacobs l-4, 225 hp like that, ch,1nces are darned good it's gine installations: A (Wright l-5, 220 7 Jacobs L 5, 285 hp il Waco Members of the last group hp), B (Wright R-760, 175 hp), C likewise present few problems· Waco (Wright R-760, 250 hp), D (Hispano built one low-wing plane ilnd one A, 15G hp or [. 180 hp) [ (Martin Hence, a UPf-7 came with a 210- high-wing plane, and a bunch of 333, 120 hp), G (Curtiss OX-5, 90 hp), 225 hp Continental R-670 engine, an gliders, examples of wh1ch you will and H (Pack.trd R 980, 225 hp) AVN-8 came with a 300-hp Jacobs L-6, find on succeeding pages. As for the After 1930, the following designa- and an ATO (pre-1930) came with a second group of Wacos . read on. tions were used: 220 hp Wright I-S. Actually, the Waco identification A- Jacobs L-6, 300 hp Unfortunately, the second and third problem isn't so much trying to deter B- Wnght R-540, 165 hp letters of the Waco designations aren't mine whether or not an aircraft is a C- Wright R-760, 250 hp so simple to explam The early ones Waco as trying to tell wh1ch Waco is D- Wright R-760E1, 285 hp were· ASO, A for Wright J 5, S for wh1ch. This guide is only a guide, E- Wright R 760E2, 320 hp "Straightwing," 0 for Model 10 type based on the informed words of sev li - Lycoming R-680E3, 300 hp b1plane; CTO, C for Wright R-760, T eral Waco experts; in 11, we try to 1-Kinner B 5, 125 hp for "Taperwing," 0 for Model 10-type present photos and specs on as many I- Wright R 975, 330-365 hp biplane. The trouble comes w1th later Wacos as poss1ble. If any of you K- Kinner K 5, 100 hp models, which had more comrlex de readers can add anything to this guide, M-Menasco C-4, 125 hp signs and more subtle d1fferences. let us know, and we will pass the 0- Kinner C ·5, 210 hp Rather than try to explain these and info along 1n future issues. P-Jacobs LA-1, 170 hp confuse the issue we simply g1ve you Basically Waco airplanes were Q- Continental A-70 165 hp the following p1ctorial listing of Waco identiiied by model number through R- Warner Scarab, 125 hp airplanes.
An attempt to chip away at the complex problem of learning to tell one Waco from another. 40 Waco Cabin Biplanes
Waco built its popular cabin bi had the "humpback" fuselage ; this began to divide its cabin planes into planes from 1931 to 1942, producing gave way to a more streamlined fuse "standard" and the more deluxe "cus 43 models between the first "DC" and lage 1n 1937. The tricycle-gear VN tom" series. the last "KS-7F." Many of these dif model was introduced in 1938, and In chronological order, these were fered on ly in engine installation, the very stream lined, high-performance the cabin biplanes models built by this being noted in the first letter of RE series came along in 1940. Early Waco: DC (1931), EC (1932), IC (1933), the model designation. The last two Waco cabin bipes had ailerons on KC (1934-5), JC (1934-6), OC (1935), letters of the designation denoted air both upper and lower wings, but from UC (1935), KS (1936-42), QC (1936), frame changes. 1935 (model OC) on, ailerons were GC (1937-9), VN (1938-9), RE (1940-1). The earliest Waco cabin biplanes used on top wings only. In 1935, Waco
WACO DC WACO IC Type: <\-place cabin biplane Type: 4-place cabin biplane Wlnespan: 33'2" Wingspan: 33 feet Wine Area: 245 square feet Wine Areo: 245 square feet Length: 23'2" Length: 25'2" Heltht: 8'5" Helaht: 8'6" Empty WeiJht: 1541 pounds Empty Weight: 1680 pounds Gross Wefaht: 2581 pounds Gross We'eht: 2800 pounds Top Speed: 116 mph Top Speed: 145 mph Cruise: 105 mph Cruise: 128 mph Landin& Speed: 50 mph Landing Speed: 50 mph Service Ceifine: 15,000 feet Service Ceiling: 15.000 teet Rate of Climb: 700 fpm Rote of Climb: 1000 tpm Waco QDC (Underwood) WACO JC WACO KS Type: 4·5 place cabin biplane Type: 4·5·place cabin biplane Wingspan: 34'10"' Wingspan: 33'3" Win& Area: 264 square feet Wing Area: 244 square feet Length: 25'8" Length: 25'3" Heleht: 10'8" Height: 8'6" Empty Weight: 1976 pounds Empty Weight: 1945·1981 pounds Gross Wti&ht: 3200 pounds Gross Weight: 3250 pounds Top Speed: 152 mph Fuel capacity: 70 gallons Cruise: 134 mph Top Speed: 142·152 mph Landin& Speed: 52 mph Cruise: 135·144 mph Service Ceiling: 16,000 feet Service Cellln&: 12,500·14,000 feet Rete of Climb: 850 fpm Rate of Climb: 750·850 fpm WACO VN WACO RE Type: 4·place cabin biplane Type: 5-place cabin biplane Wingspan: 34'9" Wingspan: 34'9• Wine Area: 246 square feet Wing Area: 285.2 square feet Length: 27'7" Length: 27'10" Height: 8'6" Height: 8'8" Empty Wei&ht: 2493 pounds Empty Weight: 2563·2761 pounds Gross Weieht: 3800 pounds Gross Weight: 4000·4200 pounds Top Speed: 161 mph Fuel Capacity: 125 gallons Cruise: 151 mph Top Speed: 185·204 mph Service Ctlllna: 14,200 feet Cruise: I 17-200 mph Rate of Cl'mb: 900 tpm Service Ceiling: 18.000·24,000 feet Note: This was the only tricycle-gear Waco cabin Waco AVN Rate of Climb: 1170·1600 tpm biplane Waco SRE (UC·72) WACO GC Type: 5·place cabin biplane WACO QC Wingspan: 35 feet Type: 4·5 place cabin biplane Wing Area: 246 square feet Wlnfspan: 35 feet Length: 26'7" Wlna Aree: 244 square feet Height: 8'8" Length: 25'9" Empty Weight: 2130 pounds Hefaht: 8'8" Gross Weight 3650 pounds Gross Weitht: 3350 pounds Top Speed: 164 mph Top Speed: 159 mph Cruise: 158 mph Cruise: 140 mph Landin& Speed: 52 mph Rate of Cflmb: 760 fpm Se~ite Ceiling: 16,500 feet Rate or Climb: 800 lpm Waco YQC Waco AGC·7 (AeroGraphics) WACO KC WACO EC WACO OC WACO UC Type: 4·5·place cabin biplane Type: 4-place cabin biplane Type: 5·place cabin biplane Type: 5 place cabin biplane Winespan: 33'3" Wingspan: 33 feet Wingspan: 35 feet Wingsp1n: 35 feet Wlna Area: 240 square feet Win& Area: 245 square feet Win& Area: 238.8 square feet Wing Areo: 239 square feet Length: 25'3" Length: 24'8'' Length: 25'4" length: 25'2" Heleht: 8'6" Height: 8'6• Height: 8'1" Height: 8'3" Empty Weiaht: 1720-1773 poonds Empty Wel&ht: 1667 pounds Empty Weicht: 1880 pounds Empty We'&hl: 2017 pounds Gross Weight: 3000 pounds Gross Weight: 2700 pounds Gross Weight: 3100 pounds Gross Weight: 3350 pounds Fuel Ctpacfty: 50 gallons Top Speed: 133 mph Fuel Capacity: 50 gallons Top Speed: 168 mph Top Speed: 138·143 mph Cruise: 117 mph Top Speed: 151·155 mph Cruise: 155 mph Cruise: 125 mph Landing Speed: 49 mph Cruise: 13J.I37 mph Landin& Speed: 55 mph Service Ceil'ne: 13.000·15,000 feet Service Ceilln&: 15,000 teet Service Ceiling: 15.300·16,300 feet Service Ceiling: 16,500 feet Rate of Climb: 750·800 fpm Rete or Climb: 1000 fpm Rate ot Clim b: 920·1000 lpm Rate of Climb: 900 fpm Waco's Open Biplanes
The old Weaver (or Western) Air but had no real production model until and the TO (Modei10-T Taperwing) by plane Company was formed m 1919 April, 1925, when the Model 9 was 1929. Several other open biplane by C. j. Brukner, Buck Weaver, and introduced. The 9 was followed by models followed (YM, NF, CF, BF, CA, Sam Junkin. It turned out a few mis the 10, the XE (an improved 10), the BA, LA, HD, MF, PF), ending with cellaneous monoplanes and biplanes, SO (a 10 with various engine options) the last UPF-7, produced in 1942
WACO 9 WACO NF Type 3 place open·cotkPtl biplane Type: 3 place open·cockplt biplane Wincspan: 31 '7 Winaspan: 29'6 W•na Area: 290 square teet Wtn& Aru: 241 5 square fe 1 l t n(th: 23'3" len&lh: 20 8 - 22 feet Heiaht: 9'3 · Height: 8'4" Empty Weicht 1320 pounds Empty Weiaht: 1125 1195 pounds Gross Wttaht: 2100 pounds Gross Wli&hl: IBn 1911 P In 1940, Waco built a prototype stored. A 165-hp Kmner engine was in Waco company was the Model W two-place, open-cockpit aerobatic stalled and the plane flew about 30 "Aristocraft," a high-wing four-seater trainer, featuring a laminar-flow low hours in the experimental category with a pusher prop. The W was flown wmg This a1rplane, designed for mili before it was issued ATC A8CE in for the first time on 31 Dec;ember tary use, was designated "RPT," and 1965. 1946, and it logged about 40 hours used a 125-hp Warner radial. WW II During WW II, Waco built some before being retired in June, 1947. interrupted the RPT's testing program, 1500 cargo/troop gliders for the U.S. A second Model W was begun but with Waco keeping busy building Army, under the designations XCG-3, never completed. Terry O'Neill, of rt. gliders, and the little trainer never got XCG-4, CG-4A-WO, XCG-13-WO, Wayne, Indiana, discovered the num beyond the prototype stage. XCG-15, XCG-15A, and CG-15A. Most ber one Model W in a hangar at the Victor Kirby, of Hannibal, Missouri, of these gliders were 15-seaters. old Waco factory in Troy, Ohio, in bought the RPT in 1962 and had 11 re- The last airplane built by the old late 1962. purchased it, and restored it. Waco W (Wtco Archovts) WACO RPT Woco APT (Ktrby Ay1n1 Ser..tte Underwood) WACO W TyPt: 2·ploU opfn cockptl. TyjM: 4 ploce cobon monoplane low wina mono plene Wonaspon: 38 feet Wlnasptn: 31'3 len&th: 25'6 Wlna Aru: I ~3 square feet Helaht: 7'8 len&th: 25 feel Empty Welaht: ?237 pounds Empty Wtl&ht: 1, •q pounds Gron Welahl: 3200 pounds Grou Wtl&ht: 2139 ~ounds Fuel Copoclty· 60 gellons Fuel Copoclty: 31 &allons Top Spfed: 154 mph Top SPttd: 150 mph Cruise: 135 mp~ Cruise: 130 mph Rote of Climb' 960 tpm llndina Speed 45 mph Ronae: 520 m les Rote ol Climb: 1250 fpm Rtnlt: 275 milts The New Waco Company The old Waco company furnished Most of the new Waco line comes French STOL plane called the Minerva, airmen with good, sturdy, wonderful from the SIAI-Marchetti factory at which comes from Sud-Aviation in biplanes. The new Waco Aircraft Com Varese, Italy. The SIAI-Marchetti 5.205 Paris. pany, a subsidiary of Allied Aero In is the basis for three new Wacos, the All the new Waco models use dustries in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is four-place S-220-4 S~rius, the five-seat 220-hp Franklin engines (the Franklin doing its thing for U.S. airmen in a S-220-5 Vela, and the turbocharged Engine Company is another subsidiary different way: It's giving us a chance TS-220-5 Vega, while S-M's SF.260 is of Allied Aero) except the Meteor, to fly several fascinating foreign air Waco's sporty Meteor which has a 260-hp lycoming. planes. The new Waco line also features a WACO MINERVA Type: 4 pl1c1, low wlna STOl monoplane Fuel Captclly: 45 &•lions Wlnaspu: 315 feel Top Speed: 162 mph Win& Aru: 132 square feel Cruise' 148 mph lenath: 23 5 ltet llndln& Speed: 58 mph Htl&ht: 9 2 feet Service Cellona: 14 800 feet Empty Welaht: 1360 pounds Rtte of Climb: 1020 fpm Crou Wtllht 2430 pounds Ronae: 650 miles WACO S·220 Type: 4 5 pi nw '""' etbin mor>oplane Futl Ctpoc ly: 55 &tllons Wrna$pon: 35 6 f I Top SjMed; 178 215 mph Wtol Alit: 173 SQUirt f~tt C WACO METEOR For Waco Meteor data, sea report on page 8.