This Post is a follow-up to the last WACO Post of May 3, 2026, which was titled:

“Grand Old WACO Closes Its Factory Doors – – – Once Again“

Here’s a side-by-side look: Why the new Battle Creek WACO looks much like the old UPF-7.

Feature	WACO YMF-5	WACO UPF-7
Era/role	Modern reproduction of a classic open-cockpit biplane	Original 1940s-era civilian trainer/biplane
Engine	Jacobs R755A2, 300 hp	Continental W-670-6A, 220 hp
Wingspan	30 ft	30 ft
Length	23 ft 4 in to 23 ft 11 in, depending on source/configuration	23 ft 1 in
Cruise speed	About 115 mph / 100 kts	About 114 mph
Stall speed	59 MPH	48 MPH
Structure	Corrosion-resistant welded steel-tube structure, modern fabric, avionics options	Original-era construction; design details varied across the F series

Why they seem nearly identical:

The two airplanes share the same classic WACO silhouette: double wings, open cockpits, and a round radial engine at the nose. WACO says the YMF-5 was built to preserve the Golden Age look while using modern construction and equipment. Don’t you think they were successful?

What actually changed

The YMF-5 has more power, modern materials, and the option for a glass cockpit or IFR-capable equipment, while the UPF-7 was a simpler 1930s-40s aircraft with a 220 hp engine. The UPF-7 was also part of the broader Waco F-series, where landing gear and tail details could vary between versions.  Note: The old UPF-7 had a safer approach speed: 48 MPH, compared to the new YMF-5, which stalls at the much higher speed of 59 MPH.  That’s a 23% higher stall speed!

Practical takeaway

From a distance, the resemblance is strong enough that many people would think they are the same airplane. Up close, the YMF-5 is best understood as a faithful re-creation of the classic UPF-7 with modern performance and support, not a museum-original UPF-7.

Follow-up Questions: You Might Want to Explore:

Differences between the Jacobs R755A2 and Continental W-670-6A engines

How does the modern YMF-5 structure improve safety over the UPF-7

Can the YMF-5 avionics package include full glass cockpit displays

Are there other vintage aircraft types that WACO reproduces today

Historical context of the 1940s WACO F-series design lineage

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The 1932 Great Lakes 2T-1A, although not a creation of the original WACO operation, it was developed in Ohio, Cleveland in particular.  Of the same 1930s era as the UPF-7, it was also an acrobatic ship and acquired along with the rights to the WACO designs. This is explained because the WACO video below includes several photos and clips of a Great Lakes in action.