I purchased a Waco Classic in March 2011 and arranged to have it ferried home with me along for the ride and some instruction. As I posted a year ago, on arrival in El Paso, we experienced a ground loop caused by brake failure and a prop strike as a result of an improper installation of the bracket air filter. The subsequent repairs to the airplane and engine took until October. At the end of October the plane was finally delivered to Oklahoma City where it existed as a piece of hangar art until February.

In February we spent a month re annualling the airplane to replace the pencil whip job it had in April. With a new engine and prop we wanted to make sure the rest of the plane was ready to fly. In April of 2012 we were finally able to get our chosen instructor, a 9,000 hour Waco pilot, to OKC for much awaited training. But we experienced a Battery Ignition failure on the first run up. Three days of screwing with that, and no Battery Ignition systems to be found, we replaced the Battery Ignition with an electronic ignition STC.

So, in May our instructor came back while I was out of town and got my partner trained. Shortly after that he experience engine problems and after flying for 40 miles with a surging engine which died twice he got the plane home where we discovered that the manufacturer had installed their electronic ignition improperly. That caused a failure of the ignition system which took a couple of weeks to resolve.

I had wondered over this period of time why the hell we ever bought the airplane...

Well, I was finally able to align my schedule with Eric's and we finally got to start training today! After three hours of POH review and a very thorough preflight we were off! Steep turns, climbs and descents were following by a morning of pattern work. What fun! I did better than I expected, not having flown a tail dragger since September, and felt my wheel landings on concrete coming along.

After lunch was tougher. We now had a 12G18 wind with a little crosswind added to hot bumpy Oklahoma weather to add to the challenge. Plus, flying this plane is a very physical exercise. So, my landings deteriorated some. But high speed taxi work and a perfect power off landing salvaged the afternoon. Plus I had a King Air wait at the hold line for two landings before complimenting the plane and taking off. Fun.

Tomorrow is air work, slow flight, stalks dutch rolls and then landing the plane with rudder and power only. Then more pattern work. Should be fun!

These planes are beautiful, fun to fly and bounce all over the sky. They take a lot of physical effort compared to anything else I have experience with. But did I say fun to fly?

No photos, 'cause I was too busy flying, but it did finally happen!

Congrats Tony!

Uhhh, 16 months eh? I remember your initial post about the Waco like it was a month ago....

I need a BT intervention....

Wow, what a story!

It seems that through it all you have maintained a great attitude. Congratulations, and I am sure it will all be worth it!

That take a lot of patients and perseverance,
Congrats Tony,

Tony,


I look forward to the photos. What a piece of history you have. You are very fortunate.

I wish I lived closer. I would try to get you and C.K. Lee together so I could photograph both planes individually and separately.

Wow. What a jerney. Sometimes the road to heaven is winding.

Awesome news!!

Have fun, Tony! Here's an exercise that really helped me transition into the Waco:

In level flight, with the "nose guns" aimed at a target well ahead, roll the wings back and forth in continuous motion eventually working up to Bank 30 or so. See if you can keep the guns on target throughout the maneuver. Tain't easy, but it will become second nature after a while.

Have fun, Tony! Here's an exercise that really helped me transition into the Waco:

In level flight, with the "nose guns" aimed at a target well ahead, roll the wings back and forth in continuous motion eventually working up to Bank 30 or so. See if you can keep the guns on target throughout the maneuver. Tain't easy, but it will become second nature after a while.

Tony glad to hear your finally getting to enjoy that airplane!

I'm planning on coming down to Tulsa in November for a BPPP, might have to plan a day to come over to PWA and check out the Waco since it was in for maintenance when I was there in January.

Max - you'll have to make a special trip! We'll get Chris to throw in for BBQ and meet in Corsicana one day...

And congrats, Tony! This is great news and you'll enjoy this.

You are now a Waco - have you stopped grinning yet?

I was just about to taxi out as Tony came in from his flight yesterday. It has been a long process to get the Waco back in great shape and it is great news that they are finally getting to fly it.

Here is an Iphone pic of one of the earlier flights.

Congrats! That's great that you finally got to have some fun with it. A friend of mine took his first flight lesson today at PWA and he called right after and told me about seeing a "really awesome red biplane" during his lesson

Congrats Tony. A book somewhere says, "good things come to those who wait."