Sad news: Juan Browne’s outstanding YouTube aviation Channel just broke the sorrowful story.

I honed my acrobatic skills in 1944 in a WACO UPF-7 after starting with a Stearman PT-17. The WACO factory that just closed its doors in Battle Creek, Michigan, had been making a replica of the UPF-7 since 1983, but they renamed it the YMF-5, one of which is owned by Mr. Browne (see the above in-flight photo).

Aside from both being biplanes and Primary Trainers, there was little else in common between the Stearman and the WACO UPF-7. The photo below shows STEARMAN in front of the WACO.

I recall that the Stearman had a tall, seemingly spindly (2 narrow landing gear struts) landing gear, and had ailerons only on the lower wing, and it closely resembled many of that era’s open-cockpit biplanes. In contrast, the WACO was aesthetically gorgeous in its classical lines, with its wide-spread gear and wheel pants . . . And it had ailerons on both the upper and lower wings, making popular 4 and 8 point rolls much easier.  Both airplanes required standard tail-dragger “S taxiing” to safely see ahead (The big engine cowling blocked the view straight ahead).

The UP-7 in which I practiced, had been used by the CPT (Civil Pilot Training) program earlier on. I was surprised that the military didn’t pick this over the Stearman or the N3Ns (used by the Navy for its Primary Training). That beautiful WACO had its own starter aboard, but I recall the many N3Ns that landed at my field (Sky Harbor – northwest of Chicago) out of the nearby Glenview NAS. 

Both of those once-busy airfields have long since been devoured by the encroachment of industrial or housing developments, an all too typically repetitious scenario across the U.S., one that has served to decimate the once ubiquitous general aviation airfields across the country.

Of course, those N3Ns had to be hand-cranked by our Line boys (of which I was one!).  This task was a bear of a workout using their inertia starter’s hand crank.  The young Navy pilots who landed them at our airport were usually celebrating their first or second solo or were with their instructor and landed to buy some coffee at our posh “Sky Harbor Country Club” Restaurant.

So, when WACO put that iconically beautiful biplane back into production in 1983, I was thrilled.

Each time I’ve seen one of the new models (such as Juan Browne’s), I’ve been pleasantly overwhelmed by the strong pang of nostalgia they evoked. I’m happy that Mr. Browne will still be able to fly his ship – – – and keep it up to par with the good stock of parts someone will surely acquire for WACO enthusiasts. 

Here for your enjoyment is a hefty collection of those classic open-cockpit biplanes, along with a few neat videos, too.  We’ll start with the YouTube Video just published a few days ago by Mr. Browne.    [As usual, we suggest you go to full-screen and remember your sound!]

The above factory video is only 1:17 long.

 

The YouTube Video below of Juan Browne’s journey is 29:35 long.

Below video is 11:57 long – It’s of the “Aviation AZ Rancher” showing off his new WACO YMF-5C

The video below is 9:00 minutes long.