Air zoo: Waco

Air Classics, Apr 2000 by Pahl, Gerard

THE KALAMAZOO AIR ZOO PROUDLY DISPLAYS A RARE WACO. WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PLANE WHILE ALSO EXAMINING THE PRODUCTION OF NEW WACO CLASSICS

eee Haah!" You could almost hear Phil Coulson exclaim as he peeled off from the echelon formation in his Waco UPF-7, did a 360, and greased her in on oneseven. Phil, president of the American Waco Association, was flying lead with a Knight Twister and Ercoupe staggered behind as they "beat up" the field before landing at the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum's Old Fashioned Fly-In last August.

The museum in southwestern Michigan, known as the "Home of the Grumman Cats," was expanding beyond its traditional military mission into civilian aviation and inviting more of the flying public to participate in special weekend events. For years the Air Zoo, as the museum is affectionately known, had one of the best airshows in the country. But tastes and times demanded change. Pulling a few tricks out of its flying helmet, the Air Zoo started to specialize in theme weekends.

Stellar spring crowds had already flocked to the Air Zoo's Family Flight Fantastic where almost 350 children were taken aloft in aircraft of the local EAA Chapter 221 and the museum's classic Tri-Motor during a hugely successful "Young Eagles" program. Then during mid-summer there was "Warbirds Over Kalamazoo," hosting a menagerie of Mustangs and Cats - even a Commando, Liberator, Marauder, and Fortress. Now, it was antique and classic time!

And it wasn't just airplanes. Over 35 vintage cars were on exhibit as well as antique tractors and vintage gas engines. A Sherman tank and a six-by also made an appearance! But besides the Chevys, Fords, Buicks and even a couple of gorgeous Auburns, there were

planes...sumptuous planes. Phil's blue-black Waco with rich creamcolored wings led the pack. Bill Nagle brought in two immaculate Ercoupes, their polished aluminum skin glistening in the late summer sun. He also had a friend fly in his Knight Twister homebuilt biplane.

Over the two-day event there were Piper Cubs, a Twin Beech, a Ryan ST, an Aeronca Champ, Piper Pacer, Stearman Kaydet, an SE.5a replica, and a high definition yellow and black de Havilland Tiger Moth. There was even a Grumman Widgeon.

With all these stunning aircraft it would be hard to pick one or two for special attention, but the sentimental crowd seemed to have a particular passion for the romantic biplanes, especially the Waco. Phil and his wife Ruth already have a Waco INF on exhibit at the Air Zoo it had been used in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPT). The UPF-7 that he flew was the variant of Waco which had been designed as a trainer but, ironically, this one was never used as such. The UPF-7 was built in 1940 and bought for $9000 by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) - the equivalent to the present day Federal Aviation Administration. All of its working life this UPF was stationed on the east coast, being based in Garden City, New York. Its burnt orange wings and bible black fuselage were observed at airports up and down the seaboard as the Waco was used by CAA Field Inspectors to check up on east coast aerodromes. At the end of World War Two, however, the UPF7 was turned over to the War Assets Administration and sold in 1946 for only S 1275! Six North Carolinians enjoyed the biplane until Phil and Ruth bought it in 1987.

Phil said he purchased this aircraft while he still had the INF, "because the Continental (engine) was more reliable than the Kinner (which powers his INF)." He also chuckled that the INF was built for a pilot that was 5 ft 2 in. Phil is over six feet tall! The UPF-7 is much roomier, has hydraulic brakes, "It just represented ten years of (advanced) technology (when compared to that of the INF)."

Imagine that - a man who owns not one, but two of these handsome Wacos. Phil's first Waco, the INF, is an even earlier model than the UPF. The former was built in 1930 and it

presently is on long-term loan to the Air Zoo. Phil would like to find a buyer, though, who would purchase it at discount and then donate it outright to the museum.

INF serial number 3382 was built in Waco's Troy, Ohio, plant and has flown to the delight of 27 owners as it traversed the country from California to Virginia and Mississippi to Michigan. Though this aircraft was not designed for use as a military trainer, when the war came duty called and this plane was drafted into the CPT. Phil explained that the plane had to go through a "rigorous series of inspections" to be certain it could hold up under the aerobatic strain to which it would be subjected.

According to Instructions for the Operation of Waco Model INF in the Aerobatic Phase of the Civilian Pilot Training Program Secondary Course it was "essential that the structure, including wires, fittings, spars, fabric and plywood coverings be

thoroughly inspected to determine that it is in first-class condition." This examination had to be done with a CAA Inspector who had to endorse the aircraft's logbook. The