THE HISTORY OF THE WACO AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Waco UPF-7
The Waco Aircraft Company (WACO) was an aircraft manufacturer located in Troy, Ohio, USA. Between 1920 and 1947, the company produced a wide range of civilian biplanes. During its twenty-seven year existence, Waco produced 62 different aircraft models and led all its competitors in number of aircraft registered.
During World War II, Waco produced large numbers of military gliders for the RAF and US Army Air Forces for airborne operations, especially during the Normandy Invasion and Operation Market Garden. The Waco CG-4 was the most numerous of their glider designs to be produced. At the same time Waco produced over 600 of its UPF-7 open biplanes and 21 VKS-7F cabin biplanes for the Civilian Pilot Training Program, which supplemented the output of the military training establishments. 42 privately-owned models of sixteen types were impressed into service as light transports and utility aircraft with the USAAF under the common designation C-72/UC-72.
Our 1941 Waco UPF-7
YOUR VIEW
As passengers you will be riding side by side in the front cockpit. Keep in mind all the flight controls are still live, active & manipulated, so you must be careful of where your feet and hands are!
Flight helmets are provided; we recommend you wear sunglasses or some form of eye protection from the wind.
Pilots View
YES! The pilot flies from the rear cockpit. Flying from the rear cockpit actually gives you a little better forward perspective than from the front, where the engine cylinders and cowlings blocks the forward view almost completely.
POWERPLANT-JACOBS R755 SERIES
The Jacobs R-755 (company designation L-4) is a seven-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine manufactured in the United States by the Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company. It was first produced in 1933 and was still in production in the 1970’s. Our engine is a 275HP version sporting a constant speed propeller.