“Exceptionally Plane People”. That “Waco Smile” Pilot: Bob

“Exceptionally Plane People”

WACO, a Legacy of Excellence

http://www.wacoaircraft.com/assets/PDFs/Magazine-and-News-Articles/PilotMagWacoJuly-Aug09.pdf

That “Waco Smile”

Pilot: Bob DobryAircraft: YMF (Jacobs 755-A2)

1920 – Founded under the name “Weaver Aircraft Company(after George Weaver) in Lorain, OH

• Used initials W-A-C-O (pronounced “Wah-co”) to identify new aircraft design

1923 – name changed to “Advance Aircraft Company (aircraft still called “Waco”)

1929 - name changed to “Waco Aircraft Company”

From 1920-47 built nearly 4,000 Waco aircraft

Over 80 variants produced; more than 700 still exist

Estimated 300 in flyable condition

Founders of WACO

1896-19771896-19261895-1924

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, by Fred O. Kobernuss

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

“Baby” Flying Boat - 1918

DBJ Flying Boat

DBJ “Scout” (C. Brukner in cockpit)

Harold Deuther

Clayton J. Brukner Elwood J. JunkinCirca 1923

Clayton BruknerCirca 1976

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

1896-1977

• Brukner Nature Center• “Lickity Log Splitter”

From the outset, founders’ goal was to design an exceptional aircraft that would be reliable, structurally sound, perform well and was affordable

They never strayed from this goal throughout production of the Waco aircraft

Waco airplanes were easy to maneuver and offered an exceptionally stable flight experience, making it the perfect plane for passenger rides, air performances, and basic pilot training

1919/20 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1927 1930 1931 1937-42

Cootie/CootieBiplane

Mod. 4 Mod. 5 Mod. 6& 7

Mod. 8 Mod. 9 Mod. 10 Mod. F Mod. C Intro. ofCabinWaco

Cabin & UPF-7600 built)

Timeline for Waco Production

2 1 3 4/16 1 276 1,200 -1,300

2,400 -2,500

Lorain Medina Troy

•

•

Ohio – 1920’s

Lorain

Medina

Troy

Wikipedia.com

1922

1923

• Dayton (McCook Field)

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

First Waco Aircraft“Cootie”

1920

First Waco crash…

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

“Cootie” Replica in the Waco Museum, Troy, Ohio

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

1920 - Waco “Cootie” Biplane

George “Buck” Weaver

Charles “Pop” Dickinson:• Philanthropist• Early backer of

aviation events & fliers• President of Aero Club of

Illinois

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

1858-1935

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

1921 Waco Model 4

Double Bay Wing

Single Bay Wing

Waco Aileron Controls

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

1922 Waco Model 5

Howard Calvert & Wife, Elvira

Displayed at First Detroit Aviation Exposition – Apr. 19, 1922

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol. 1, by Fred O. Kobernuss

First “Advance Aircraft Co.” Manufacturing Plant in Troy

1923 Waco Model 6 (4 built)Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

1923 Waco Model 7 (16 built)

Introduced the Aeromarine 2A Wing

1924 Waco Model 8

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

At 1924 National Air RacesPilot: Clayton Brukner

Events of 1924-25:

• George Weaver died in July 1924 of blood poisoning from a blister on his foot

• George’s brother-in-law, Charles Meyers, hired to be Waco Chief Test Pilot

• Curtiss “Scare” – Nov. 1924

• Late 1925 – Sam married Hattie Weaver (George’s widow)

Charles W. Meyers1898-1972

Airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact (NASM)

1925 Waco Model 9

Waco 9 Improvements:• Fuselage: welded steel tube• “Mass production” to meet customer demand (1 plane per day)• Relocated radiator

Note: Waco 9 in photo donated to NASM by Clayton Brukner in 1972

Ad placed in Aero Digest for Waco 9

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol 2, by Fred O. Kobernuss

Note: Sept. 28, 1925 Waco 9 wasat first annual “Commercial AirplaneReliability Tour “ for the FordTouring Trophy - Lloyd Yost, Waco dealer, finished with a perfect score

1925 – First “Mating” of EDO Floats to a Waco 9

Waco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol 2, by Fred O. Kobernuss

Trying Events of 1926:

• Air Commerce Act became law:• Concern that only military aircraft manufacturers

would meet government standards• Waco owners’ plea to Feds re: structural integrity of

Waco aircraft prevailed; surpassed gov’t. tests

• November 1, 1926 – Sam Junkin died from heart attack (had rheumatic fever as a child); 10 days after his visiting father died; Hattie widowed again

• Ed Green (designer & stress analysis engineer for Warner-Swasey Co.) hired to take Sam’s place as lead designer

Hattie Meyers Weaver(1917-24)

and

Hattie Meyers Junkin(1925-26)

airandspace.si.edu/research/arch/findaids/junkin/hmj_print.html

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

1927 Waco Model 10

“The Greatest Waco Ever Built”

Excerpt from “Waco Airplanes, Ask Any Pilot, Raymond H. Brandly, page 36 about the new Waco Model 10:

“The cowling was beautiful in both line, finish and detail; not hand-made, but pressed in a hydraulic press; easily detachable in units. The cockpits were exceptionally large and were as easily entered as any roadster. The seats were so shaped, inclined and cushioned so as to assure comfortable relaxation to both passengers and pilot. The windshields were efficient, and afforded real protection. Plane and motor controls were comfortably positioned…..The landing gear was distinctly in advance of the prevailing style….The shock absorbing mechanism was rubber-less and employed only two moving parts….The result was smoother, shorter landings without the use of brakes.”

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Ad for the Waco Model 10

Price: $2,385 - $2,460

Waco 10 Improvements:• Larger wingspan• More pilot/passenger comfort• Split-axle landing gear • Oleo hydraulic shock absorbers• More efficient ailerons (strut-linked)• Tailplane could be trimmed in flight• Wing spars & drift bracing stronger

Engines Used on the Waco 10 Variants

• Hisso (Hispano-Suisa) 150 hp V-8• Caminez 4 cyl 125 hp radial • Ryan Siemens (Siemens-Halske) 7 cyl 122 hp radial• Wright J-5 Whirlwind 9 cyl 220 hp• Wright R-760 225 hp • Wright R-975 300 hp• Packard DR 980 Diesel 225 hp• Kinner K-5 100 hp• Kinner C-5 210 hp• Continental A-70 165 hp• Continental W-670 240 hp• Jacobs LA-1 140 hp or 170 hp• Warner Scarab 110 hp

Waco 125 (Waco 10 with a Ryan Siemans 9 cyl, 122 hp)

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Waco 10 with Fairchild-Caminez 4 cyl. 125 hp engine

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

June 27 – July 12, 1927, four Waco 10’s entered the 3rd annual Commercial Airplane Reliability Tour • Three with J5 Wright engines finished 5th, 7th

and 9th

• Fourth, with a Hisso E 180hp engine, finished 12th

Charlie Meyers flew an OX-5 powered ‘10 from Long Island, NY to Spokane, WA finishing 28 minutes ahead of the nearest competitor

Change in Aircraft Designation System

• In 1927, with more variants of the Waco 10, new aircraft designation system required

• Three letter Designation:

o First letter: Engineo Second letter: Wing & Airframe Designo Third letter: Type of aircraft series

• e.g. ASO [A = Wright J5-9; S = Straightwing; O = Model 10

Waco 10 “Taperwing”

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Fred Lund“Fearless Freddie”

John Livingston and his ATO * “Sport Waco” NX7527

http://www.dmairfield.com/people/livingston_jh/index.html

* A = Wright J-5 Engine T = Taperwing O = Model 10

Took 1st place in 1928National Air Races (NY to LA; 2,939 mi.22hr 57min.)

John Paul Riddle

T. Higbee Embry

Waco Factory in Troy, Ohio - 1930

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Runway (open to public until 1965)

1930New Model “F” Waco

With Kinner B-5 engine

With Warner R-420 engineWaco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Changes from Waco 10:• NACA M-18 wing• Smaller airframe• 450 lbs. lighter• Lighter landing gear

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

1930 Waco Primary Glider

1930 Waco Primary Glider

EAA 2001 Restoration

What frequently occurred

Airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact

National Waco Club.com

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

1931 Model F-2 (QCF)

Improvements:• New “Clark Y” wing design• Corrugated aluminum ailerons• Newly designed landing gear • Exceptional climb-rate (Autogyro challenge)

Optional Speed Ring and Metal Prop For Model F-2

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Armed Waco “240” CSO - 1930

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

New Cabin Waco – Model C1931

Note staggered wings

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Interior of 1931 Cabin Waco Model C

nationalwacoclub.com/aalbum/slides/1933

1933 Waco Model PLA(Four built)

Note enclosed canopy

pilotfriend.com/aircraft/Waco/

1937 Waco UIC Standard Cabin

(450 Standard Cabin series built; 135 still registered in U.S.)

1936 Waco ZQC-6 Waco Custom Cabin (68 built)

Note “Sesquiplane” wing

“E” Series Waco “Aristocrat” (prod. 30 from 1939-42)

Waco Air Museum

Clayton Brukner

2500th Waco Airplane SoldJune 1935 YOC “Custom Cabin”

Joshua Crane Jr.Boston Waco Distributor

Hugh PerrySales Mgr.

1938 Waco AVN-8 “Trike”

edcoatescollection.com/ac3/Classics/Wacoavn8

Waco UPF-71937-1942

Historic Flight Foundation’sWaco UPF-7 (N32018)

historicflight.org

SNJ

1937 Waco JHD-6

365hp Wright R-975-E1

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

Wing-mounted Machine Gun on Waco JHD - 6

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

1942 Waco CG-3A Nine-man Trainer Glider(100 Built)

Waco CG-4A “Hadrian”Circa 1942

Wikipedia.com

Role Military glider

Manufacturer Waco Aircraft Co.

First flight 1942

Primary users

United States Army Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air ForceUnited States Navy

Number built >13,903

1945 Waco CG-13

• Designed to carry 30 personnel• 135 Built (Ford and Northwestern Aeronautical)• None used in combat ; only as transports

Wind tunnel model of the YC-62 “Caravan”Circa 1942

Wikipedia.com

Post-War Waco XPG-1 Prototype(Built by Northwestern Aeronautical Corp.)

(CG-4A converted with two Franklin 6AC-298-N3 engines)

http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=siris_arc_288044

Note port engine

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Shumaker/10598.htm

1947 Waco Model W “Aristocraft”

Four Seat Executive Transport

(Final aircraft design of the Waco Aircraft Co.)

Waco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, by Raymond H. Brandly

• Semi-retractable landing gear• 215 hp Franklin 6 cyl. engine• Pusher propeller

Reference Material:

Historicflight.orgWaco Airplanes “Ask Any Pilot”, Raymond H. BrandlyWaco, Symbol of Courage and Excellence, Vol 1 & 2, Fred O. Kobernuss Aerofiles.com/wacodataAirandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact (NASM)Eaavintage.orgEdcoatescollection.com/ac3/Classics/Wacoavn8Airliners.net Canadianflight.org/content/waco-aqc-www.libraries.wright.edu/special/collection_guides/guide_files/ms343.pdfAirventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/Waco%2010_ATO.aspNational Waco Club.comAviation-history.com/waco/upf-7Rareaircraft.com/remanufacture/restoration