Waco A series

The Waco A series is a range of light American-built twin side-by-side seater sporting biplanes of the early 1930s.

Waco A series
Waco PBA biplane of 1932 at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum near St Louis Missouri in 2006 showing the wide side-by-side seating layout
Role two-seat side-by-side biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Waco Aircraft Company
Introduction 1932
Status a few examples still extant in 2009
Primary user private owners

Development

The Waco A series was introduced in 1932 as an affordable private-owner aircraft with cross-country range and baggage capacity and a more sporting image than the larger Waco F series. The A series offered a number of engine options which had varying sub-designations. The power range lay between the KBA with a 100 hp (75 kW) Kinner engine and the later UBA with a 210 hp (157 kW) Continental powerplant.[1]

The PLA "Sportsman" of 1933 introduced a longer wider fuselage and a higher useful load and had a 170 hp (127 kW) Jacobs LA-1 radial engine. The last model in the series was the ULA, also of 1933, with a 210 hp (157 kW) powerplant.[2]

Operational history

The A series was bought mainly by private pilot owners with a sporting inclination. Relatively few were produced and the type survives in small numbers in 2009. A PBA is on display in the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum at Dauster Field near St Louis, Missouri.

Variants

Data from Aerofiles[3]

BBA
165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-5
KBA
100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5
IBA
125 hp (93 kW) Kinner B-5
PBA
170 hp (127 kW) Jacobs LA-1
RBA
110 hp (82 kW) later 125 hp (93 kW) Warner Scarab
TBA
160 hp (119 kW) Kinner R-5
UBA
210 hp (157 kW) Continental R-670
ICA
125 hp (93 kW) Kinner K-5
KCA
100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5
PCA
170 hp (127 kW) Jacobs LA-1
RCA
110 hp (82 kW) Warner Scarab
TCA
160 hp (119 kW) Kinner R-5
UCA
210 hp (157 kW) Continental R-670
PLA Sportsman
longer and wider fuselage and 170 hp (127 kW) Jacobs LA-1
ULA Sportsman
as PLA with 210 hp (157 kW) Continental R-670

Specifications (RBA variant)

Data from Green, 1965, p. 306

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: one passenger
  • Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m)
  • Wingspan: 29 ft 6 in (8.84 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 8 in (2.44 m)
  • Empty weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,949 lb (884 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Warner Scarab , 125 hp (93 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 91 mph (146 km/h, 79 kn)
  • Range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 12,800 ft (3,900 m)
  • Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)

References

Notes
  1. Simpson, 2001, p. 574
  2. Green, 1965, p. 306
  3. Aerofiles

Bibliography
  • Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.
  • Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.
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