American Waco Club Holds Annual Fly-In

By Carmelo Turdo

The annual American Waco Club Fly-In was held at Creve Coeur Airport this weekend, and The Aero Experience was on site for one of the highlights of the event - the Saturday morning Fly-Out to Aero Estates Airport in nearby Belleville, IL for a neighborly gathering of Waco owners, family and friends. 

Cabin and tandem seat Wacos arrived from Creve Coeur Airport between 8 A.M. and 9 A.M. for breakfast hosted by Mark and Elaine Harter, owner of the gorgeous blue and white Waco YKS-7 seen in many previous posts. Here we feature the arrival, static display and later departure of these historic aircraft.

The history of the Waco Aircraft Company goes back to 1919 when the Weaver Aircraft Company (WACO) was founded in Ohio. Following the failure to produce a commercially successful design, Buck Weaver left the company and it was renamed the Advance Aircraft Company in 1923. Commercial success came in 1925 and afterwards with the production of Waco Models 9 and 10. In 1929, the company name was changed back to Waco Aircraft Company, and the company continued to dominate civilian aircraft production. During the World War II years, Waco Aircraft produced UPF-7 trainers and Hadrian troop gliders. However, with the advent of all-metal construction becoming standard, the Waco Aircraft company simply could not compete and finally closed its doors after being purchased and resold several times.

The success of the Waco designs is obvious considering the number of restored aircraft still flying and the advent of the new Waco Aircraft Corporation that currently manufactures new model YMF-5 and Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 models reminiscent of the classic designs. Many of the newly-manufactured aircraft co-mingle with the originals with anonymity.

The Aero Experience thanks the Harter Family and all those who participated in this year’s American Waco Club Fly-In throughout the weekend.