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1926 WACO 9

The Waco 9 was the first of the steel-tubed fuselage aircraft designs to be built by the Advance Aircraft Company, which became the Waco Aircraft Company circa 1929. The Model 9 was a three-seat open cockpit biplane with the ailerons on the upper wings extending outboard of the main wing surfaces.

 

About 270 Model 9 aircraft were built during 1925 and 1926.

 

The Model 9 was of rugged construction to meet the barnstorming requirements of the period. The cost when new was between $2,025 and $2,500. A Waco 9 was flown in the 1926 Ford National Reliability Air Tour. The Model 9 was the first aircraft type to be fitted with aluminum floats (by the EDO Corporation in 1928).

 

Model 9s were fitted with a variety of engines including the 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5, the 100 hp (75 kW) Curtiss OXX-6, 100 hp (75 kW) Curtiss C-6 and the 150 hp (112 kW) Hisso A.

 

This particular aircraft is one of the oldest flyable WACOs in the world. Before it was acquired by the Ala Doble Flying Collection, it was a project that was started by Bob Howie of Decatur, IL with contributions from Tom Brown, John Murray and others. When it was acquired by ADFC from the Howie estate, the restoration was continued and finished at Brodhead Airport, in Brodhead, WI led by the efforts of Chris Price, Jay Berendes and Ted Davis. It was awarded Sweepstakes Grand Champion at EAA’s Airventure in 2023. It currently resides at the Ala Doble Flying Ranch where it is kept in flying condition.

 

(Sources: US Civil Aircraft – Joseph Juptner and Wikipedia)

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Front Cockpit View

Rear Cockpit View

“As the doors opened up, the sunlight chased the shadows into the corners and revealed inch by inch an antique airplane so utterly pristine, I couldn’t decide if I had been transported back in time, or if the airplane itself was an anomaly that didn’t belong in the modern world.” _ Brittany Elise

 

Read the full article written and photographed about the WACO 9 in the  January/February 2024 issue of Vintage Airplane, a publication of the EAA. It was written and photographed by Brittany Elise.

Read it Here

1926 Waco 9

Specifications
  • Registration: C2668
  • Serial number: 306
  • Empty Weight: 1320 lbs
  • Gross Weight: 2100 lbs
  • Performance:
  • Cruise: 79 MPH
  • Max Speed: 92 MPH
  • Dimensions:
  • Wing Span: 31’7″
  • Length: 23’3″
  • Height: 9’3″

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