Waco A series explained

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

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 1000NaN0 Kinner engine and the later UBA with a 2100NaN0 Continental powerplant.[1]

The PLA "Sportsman" of 1933 introduced a longer wider fuselage and a higher useful load and had a 1700NaN0 Jacobs LA-1 radial engine. The last model in the series was the ULA, also of 1933, with a 2100NaN0 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]

BA series

BBA: Wright J-5 - none produced
  • KBA: Kinner K-5 - one built
  • IBA: Kinner B-5 - three built including one conversion
  • PBA: Jacobs LA-1 - six built
  • RBA: later Warner Scarab - 4 built
  • TBA: Kinner R-5 - none built
  • UBA: Continental R-670 - at least 6 built
  • CA series

    KCA: Kinner K-5 - possibly none built
  • PCA: Jacobs LA-1 - possibly none built
  • RCA: Warner Scarab - possibly none built
  • TCA: Kinner R-5 - none built
  • UCA: Continental R-670 - none built
  • LA series

    PLA Sportsman:
  • longer and wider fuselage and Jacobs LA-1 - 4 built
    ULA Sportsman
  • as PLA with Continental R-670 - 1 built

    References

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Simpson, 2001, p. 574
    2. Green, 1965, p. 306
    3. http://www.aerofiles.com/_waco.html Aerofiles