Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Light cabin touring monoplane

Power Plant:

(EGC-8) One 239 kw (320 hp) Wright Whirlwind R-760E-2 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

(YKS-6) One 168 kw (225 hp) Jacobs L-4 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

History:

The Waco series of touring biplanes was first released in 1931 by the Weaver Aircraft Co (WACO).  This Company was formed in 1920 by mechanics Clayton Brukner and Elwood Junkin, who teamed up with barnstorming pilots Buck Weaver and Charles Weaver.  Production of the Company’s aircraft continued in various models with a variety of power plants up to 1939 and, after the United States entered World War II, it produced large gliders to be used in the invasion of Europe.

The principal light cabin monoplane produced initially was the QCD with a 123 kw (165 hp) Continental radial engine. This was followed by the BEC, the OEC, and the UEC, fitted with Continental, Wright or Kinner radial engines (respectively).  In 1935 the constant chord wings were discontinued in favour of elliptical wings, which were fitted to new models known as the UOC (Continental R-670A engine) and the YOC with the 168 kw (225 hp) Jacobs L-4 engine.

The Waco series was tailored to meet the needs of the operator, and became known as the Custom Cabin biplane.  For example, the C-6 series was offered with a range of nine different engines, so each variation was given a different model designation according to the engine fitted.  Due to the varying powers of the engines each model was considered to be a different aircraft, varying in performance and, to some extent, in handling characteristics.  Accommodation was provided for four, but five persons could be carried.  Most aircraft were gaily finished and lavishly equipped, as they were used as personal transports.

A number of Wacos of various models have been imported to Australasia and, in more recent times, a company has been producing replicas known as the Classic Waco YMF. Examples of this model have been imported and are dealt with elsewhere.  Four Waco C-series cabin biplanes were imported in the 1930s, these being VH-UVW, VH-AAF, VH-UYD and VH-UAX. One further American-registered example of a YKS-7 C-series was imported in 1989 and placed in storage at Wedderburn, NSW awaiting restoration, registration VH-UKS being reserved but by 2020 not being taken up.  In addition, two with open cockpits, a Model 10T VH-ULV (c/n A.100) and a UPF-7 VH-IOI (c/n 5687), later re-registered VH-NVF, were imported.

VH-UYD (c/n 4534) was a Model YKS-6 registered in August 1937 to Adastra Airways Ltd for use in survey work.  In December 1942 it was carrying out survey work based at Kempsey, NSW for the Australian Army.  Subsequently it had a number of owners including Dr G L Young of Forbes, NSW and Kingsford Smith Aviation Service of Mascot, NSW. In 1952, whilst taxiing at Bankstown, NSW, it stood on its nose and the wooden propeller was destroyed.  In August 1952 it was delivered to Papuan Air Transport and flown in airline service, returning to Australia in November 1959.  Subsequent owners included Austerserve of Bankstown, R G Akers of Charleville, QLD and J H Treloar of Broken Hill, NSW.  It overturned and was damaged at Goorimpa, NSW on 9 July 1966 and was rebuilt.  It was re-registered in March 1970 and is based in South Australia.

VH-UVW (c/n 4403), a Model YQC-6, with a 168 kw (225 hp) Jacobs L-4 engine, was imported by the Australian agent, Adastra Airways of Mascot.  However, on its first flight in Australia on 30 May 1936 it overturned before take-off due to the wheel brakes not being released.  It was repaired and in November 1937 ownership was transferred to Southern Airlines & Freighters for services between Sydney and Broken Hill.  In October 1938 it was fitted with a galvanised-iron tank for carrying fish whilst it was operated by Mr N Healy of Sydney.

On 22 May 1939 ownership was transferred to Mr J R Palmer of Sydney, NSW but the aircraft was impressed by the RAAF in August 1942 as A54-1.  It was taken on charge by No 3 Communications Flight and camouflaged by Marshall Airways, which was then operating at Mascot.  On 6 September 1942 it ground looped on landing and the mainplane and both spars were broken.  It was again repaired and continued with No 3 Communications Flight until 12 April 1944.  In March 1945 it was released to civil use and registered to W J Meehan of South Yarra, VIC in March 1945, and Geelong Airways in Victoria in June 1947. It was withdrawn from use in December 1948.  At one stage this aircraft was fitted with a de Havilland Gipsy Six six-cylinder in-line engine.

VH-UAX (c/n 3749), a Model UIC, was registered to Aircrafts Pty Ltd in December 1935.  Powered by a 157 kw (210 hp) Continental R-670 engine, as G-ACGJ it was shipped as deck cargo by Norddeutscher Lloyd to Bremen, Germany in 1932, being owned by Lady Hay Drummond Hay.  It was delivered to Southampton in Hampshire and taken to Heston in Middlesex on 2 June 1933 by H F Jenkins, CFI of Air Service Training. Reports at the time indicated it was overpowered and had excessive fuel consumption.  In 1935 it was sold in Australia to Aircrafts Pty Ltd and flown by Ron Adair.  On 12 October 1935 it was registered to Harriet May Gilbertson as VH-UAX but was written-off after a forced landing at Archerfield, QLD on 3 May 1942.

VH-AAF (c/n 5051), a Model EGC-8, was registered to Mr G B S Falkiner of the Haddon Rig property in the Macquarie Valley in New South Wales in mid-1938.  He used the aircraft until 1960.  Later it was used by Country Air Services Pty Ltd at Rockhampton, QLD and was painted as The Jolly Roger.  At this time it was fitted with a new 224 kw (300 hp) Jacobs engine.  After an overhaul it was licensed in the commercial category for charter and tourist flights from Rockhampton.  In 1967 it was sold to Laurence Clark and went to Darwin, NT but on 15 May 1973 it ground-looped when landing at a Northern Territory airstrip and was sold in a damaged condition.

It returned to Queensland where it became VH-CGF and became known as a Waco EGC-8 Special, being registered for a time to Cliff Douglas at the Chewing Gum Field at Elanora, QLD.  In the 1990s it was restored by Mothcair at Murwillumbah, NSW, and registered to Nick Challinor, later being sold to Michael Hayes of Ascot and being based in Queensland.  In January 2010 its registration was changed to VH-EGC with Mr Hayes.

The C-series Wacos had a fuselage framework built up of welded steel tubing, faired to shape with wooden formers and fairing strips, then fabric covered. The cabin was upholstered and sound-proofed, and a large baggage compartment was available to the rear of the rear seat, or through a door on the left side. The wing was built in four panels of solid spruce spar beams with spruce and plywood truss-type wing ribs.  The leading-edges were covered with duralumin sheet, and the completed framework was covered in fabric.  Split-type drag flaps on the underside of the upper wing were vacuum-operated.

Three Wacos in the series have been registered in New Zealand.  ZK-ACV (c/n 3580), a Model QDC, was registered in the 1930s and impressed by the RNZAF as NZ570.  However, as it was not suitable for its intended role, it was used as an instructional airframe, and was broken up in 1941.

ZK-ADE (c/n 3820), a Model UIC, was powered by a 201 kw (270 hp) Continental R-670 radial engine and was operated by the Wellington Aero Club after being imported in December 1933.  It was impressed as NZ574 by the RNZAF during World War II, and after military service became ZK-ALG. The aircraft then continued in civil service with the Tauranga Aero Club from 1947 to 1955, and then the Northland Districts Aero Club.  It suffered an engine failure on 27 September 1957 and crashed into Whangarei Harbour and was written off. ZK-ALG had a blue marlin painted on the fuselage indicating the renowned big-game fishing available in the Bay of Plenty area, and both it and ZK-ALA were regularly used on scenic tourist flights in the region.

ZK-AEL (c/n 4336), a Model UOC, was registered in the 1930s, and impressed by the RNZAF as NZ575.  It saw some military military service during World War II.  Later it became ZK-ALA Aotea and was owned and operated by the Marlborough Aero Club.  It was then operated by Blackmore’s Air Services Ltd until this company was taken over by James Aviation Ltd of Rotorua in 1951.  In 1959 it was exported to Australia to Mr G E Giltrap of Coolangatta, QLD. It was placed on display at his museum on the Gold Coast for a few years.  After the closure of the museum it was placed in storage and was reported to be undergoing restoration in Sydney.  In late 2008 it was purchased by a New Zealander and shipped to Omaka where the restoration has been completed.

Further examples have been imported. In 1989 an HKS-7 (ex N31672), which was built in October 1942, and which had been altered from VKS-7F configuration, was imported to Canberra, ACT for restoration but has not yet been completed.  In 2008 a YKS-7 (c/n 5222 – ex N20965) was imported by its owner at Redcliffe, QLD, becoming VH-YKX.  In late 2012 a further Waco arrived in Melbourne, VIC this aircraft (c/n 5073 – ex N66206) being one of eight AGC-8s (c/ns 5069 to 5078) built in 1938 for the American Civil Aeronautics Authority. It is fitted with a 261 kw (350 hp) Jacobs L-6 radial engine. It is based in Melbourne, and has been noted at aviation events in Victoria.

Classic Waco of Lansing, Michigan, USA produces the Model YMF in kit form and three have been imported to Australia. This type is dealt with elsewhere. The Waco Aircraft Co of Forks, Washington produces the Model ATO Taperwing design from 1930 in kit form but using modern materials, and more than 30 have been sold around the world.

The Waco series was also used by a number of air forces, examples being supplied to Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala Air Corps, Uruguay and Brazil, with which examples were used by the air force and the navy, the latter aircraft being fitted with floats.

As noted above, a further YKS-7 was imported by Sydney restorer John Gallagher in the late 1980s and was expected to become VH-UKS (c/n 5278 – ex N31656, NC31656), being placed on the civil aircraft register on 12 September 2003, but the restoration work was put on hold while work on other aircraft was carried out.