A company called "Classic Aircraft" is based here in Lansing, Michigan and is building a replica of the WACO YMF-5. In talking with the shop foreman recently I was told that they have back orders for eighteen of them that sell around a $100,000.00 a piece. They have completed and delivered five or six and one has been returned for re-work already from Florida after landing with the wheel brakes fully locked. Two years ago when the IMAA Festival was held here in the Lansing area, I made arrangements to have the prototype on display at the Festival site, and made arrangements for a factory tour on Saturday morning for anyone who wanted to see them under construction. Jim Pepino of Scale Plans-Photo Service jumped at the chance and must have taken a goodly number of pictures. He has just sent me a set of plans for a quarter scale version of the WACO YMF-5. Oh yes, I forgot to make mention that the replica Waco's are powered by Jacob Radials.

Now the model: The wing span is 90 inches and a rough guesstimate of the wing area comes out to around 2,350 squares. Jim projects the weight at 22 to 25 pounds, qt. 25 pounds the wing loading is 24.50 ounces so you have a floater, the same as the Pica Wacos. A Super Tigre 3000 is shown on the plan, but I got my Saito five cylinder radial out and layed it on the plan, and it appears the engine was made for this Giant Aircraft.

The plans are on four sheets. The a FIRST SHEET has a top fuselage view and left side view. The fuselage is built using 3/8 square balsa or spruce longerons, the choice is yours... with quarter square diagonals and uprights. Bulkheads and formers are added to the basic framework. Heavy oak beam mounts are shown on the plan, but you have the option of building and reinforcing the firewall and using a radial mount. With the Saito Radial you must use the radial mount. Fin and rudder are built using a 3/16" balsa sheet core, to which you add ribs. Leading edge of the rudder and trailing edge of the fin are either balsa, spruce or basswood. I find myself using more and more basswood. It is light, strong, sands easily and doesn't split easily. The scale tailwheel in the proper position and the construction is shown. The cowl with valve blisters and the wheelpants are shown and are available from Fiberglass Master, Goodview, VA.

SHEET TWO has the left wing panels with the center sections shown. Wings have two box spars with 1/8th sheet ribs. Ailerons have 1/8th sheet cores, and are hinged at the top. No way, I have already changed that to the friese type and will use either G-C or DE hinges. Ailerons can be torque rod operated and Jim suggests the Byron aileron connectors for a faster set up and take down. The plan shows servos mounted in the wing at the aileron. Both wing center sections are sheeted with 1/8th balsa. Also on this plan sheet is shown the rear cockpit template, the front cockpit cover and the door template for the front cockpit and a door template for the rear cockpit. There is also a baggage compartment immediately behind the rear cockpit on the left side. Wing interplane strut construction is also shown on this sheet.

SHEET THREE shows the right wing panels. All ribs are cap stripped, which makes for a much nicer finish, and the stab and elevator which are constructed the same as the fin and rudder are shown. The ailerons on the real aircraft were corrugated aluminum with 36 corrugations per side. Jim suggests that these corrugations can be purchased from SIG Mfg. of Montezuma, lowa, as they are a Sig Bravo part. Aileron mass balance bracket fitting is also shown on this plan sheet.

SHEET FOUR has the bulkhead drawings and the landing gear layout. The gear bent from 3/16" wire, and shock comes from a single bolt and spring on the spreader wire similar to the Byron Pitts. I firmly believe that on a BIG model of this size and weight you must have a better shock system. I would be well to buy a set of the full size construction photos from Jim and construct your gear accordingly. Cabane wire layout and attachment is also shown. Thore is also a jig for setting the wing incidence shown. Get a set of Paul Matt drawings from Jim and use that for your guide. Also on this aircraft there is two degrees of dihedralin both the upper and lower wing. This aircraft also has a different wing tip shape when viewed from the front. I will suggest to Jim Pepino that this be incorporated into the plan. This set of plans can be purchased from Scale Plans and Photo Service, Greensboro, NC. This is another superb plan set that is well worth the money.

While I have been reviewing these plans, things like the ads in Popular Aviator in the thirties with Wacos shown in flight have been running thru my mind, along with remembering having my Popular Aviations, Air Trails, Sky Fighters Daredevil Aces and Aero Digests confiscated when I was a kid in school. One teacher even threw some of them in the stove right in front of me and made me recite my times tables from two through twelve. Boy they wouldn't get away with that today!

Jim Pepino has touched a weak spot with me with this plan. I'd be foolish not to build this beautiful Waco YMF-5, as all the documentation I need is about two miles from me. I will say that this will, repeat, will be my next winters project. There I am committed!