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What follows
are links to a brief history WACO broken into stages.
(several are still under development). To get the full,
colorful history of WACO please consult books listed on
this page. These books are the main references for the
brief history included here. Most of the these books are
available in the
gift shop area of this web site, and that the museum
gift shop.
The WACO
Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio was the leading aircraft
manufacturer of civilian aircraft in the U. S. from 1928
- 1935. Beginning in 1921 as the Weaver
Aircraft Company in Lorain, Ohio , they moved
to Troy in 1924 and became the Advance Aircraft Company
but kept the WACO logo. In 1929, the name was
changed to simply the WACO Aircraft Company.
WACO produced over 80 models during the years 1919 - 1946, including the large
troop carrying gliders used in all the major invasions during WWII. The
best selling WACO was the Model 10, with over 1100 being produced from 1927 -
1930. During the years 1939 - 1942, WACO also built just over 600 Model
UPF-7's for the CAA and the Civilian Pilot Training program. WACOs were
also popular around the world and sold airplanes to 37 different countries with
Brazil being the largest byer.
WACOs were purchased for many different uses. The WACO Taperwing Models
ATO and CTO were known for their outstanding acrobatic qualities and were also
used for air racing. WACO won the 1928 and 1929 Ford Reliability Tour also
known as the National Air Tour, which was a transcontinental race sponsored by
Ford pitting over 25 aircraft manufacturers against each other. WACOs
raced in the famous National Air Races in Cleveland, Los Angeles and Chicago and
placed first in many events. One WACO was even invited to participate in
the Paris International Air Show in 1936 where it placed first in the acrobatic
events. Other WACOs were purchased and used for military fighters in
Central and South American countries such as Uruguay, Nicaragua, Brazil,
Argentina, El Salvador and Cuba. Many wealthy sportsmen also purchased
WACOs such as Howard Hughes, Roscoe Turner, Gar Wood, Powell Crosley, Jackie
Cochran, and Henry King, just to name a few. Over the past 20 years, the
WACO Historical Society has organized to preserve the history of the
company and its airplanes. |
