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UNDER DEVELOPMENT
BACKGROUND
There were 107 landings by Waco
aircraft between July 27, 1926 and November 6, 1936. The
landings were made by at least 79 unique aircraft. With the
aid of the National
Waco Club, specifically President
Andy Heins (credit, right sidebar), I was able to positively identify
71 of the 79 aircraft, comprising 17 different models.
The National
Waco Club is recognized as the oldest "Type Club" in the
United States. It took Andy and me about
two weeks of exhilirating detective work and database comparisons
to glean this information.
WHAT WERE THE AIRPLANES DOING?
Fairly, it can be deduced
that these airplanes were being used for what most light
aircraft of the era were used for. As they passed through
Tucson, our Wacos were piloted solo, carrying passengers
on business (sometimes VIP passengers, see below), being
ferried, or racing.
Regardless of their use, they were born here, in the Waco
factory in Troy, OH pictured below. This is an undated photograph
from an advertisement.
With the National Waco Club's help, the 17 models were positively
identified as follows: ASO, ATO, BSO, CSO, CTO, DQC-6,
GXE, INF, KNF, QCF-2, QDC, RNF, UBF-2, UEC, UIC, UKC and
ZQC-6.
WHO WERE THE PILOTS AND PASSENGERS
WHO FLEW IN THEM?
Charlie Meyers was a Waco test/race pilot.
Tex LaGrone was
a Waco Dealer from the Kansas City area. His passenger, Clayton
Bruckner, was the President of the Waco Aircraft Company
during the entire time they were in business from 1924-1964.
Freddie Lund
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Freddie Lund was the test pilot for the Waco Aircraft Company
from about 1926 until his death in an aircraft accident (Waco
ATO NC661Y, not in the Register) during an air race in Lexington,
KY in 1931. His passenger, Robert E. Lees, was the Sales
Manager for Waco. While it is written clearly in the Register, the airplane
they were flying, 7583, is not a known Waco registration
number. "Fearless" Freddie Lund, daredevil pilot,
made the first outside loop in 1928 in a commercial airplane. His wife, Betty, was also a pilot.
Passenger Bill Lear Probably one of Lear's
early instruments.
Pilot Lee N. Brutus is VP Waco Aircraft, Troy, OH.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS
OF THIS GROUP OF WACO AIRCRAFT TODAY?
The airplane John
Livingston is flying here,
NX7527, currently resides in the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, WI.
It was a 1928 Waco ATO Taperwing. It is now a model CTO.
TABLE OF WACO AIRCRAFT OF THE DAVIS-MONTHAN
MUNICIPAL AIRFIELD REGISTER
| Registration Number |
Pilot Name |
Landing Date |
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Dossier 3.1.13
UPLOADED: REVISED:
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