Waco A series
type of aircraft
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 100 hp (75 kW) Kinner engine and the later UBA with a 210 hp (157 kW) Continental powerplant.
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.
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
BA series
BBA
165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-5 - none produced
KBA
100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5 - one built
IBA
125 hp (93 kW) Kinner B-5 - three built including one conversion
PBA
170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - six built
RBA
110 hp (82 kW) later 125 hp (93 kW) Warner Scarab - 4 built
TBA
160 hp (120 kW) Kinner R-5 - none built
UBA
210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - at least 6 built
CA series
KCA
100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5 - possibly none built
PCA
170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - possibly none built
RCA
110 hp (82 kW) Warner Scarab - possibly none built
TCA
160 hp (120 kW) Kinner R-5 - none built
UCA
210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - none built
LA series
PLA Sportsman
longer and wider fuselage and 170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - 4 built
ULA Sportsman
as PLA with 210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - 1 built
Specifications (RBA variant)
Data from Green, 1965, p.
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