General Information

Serial #

6117

Part Number

1

Total Parts

15

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

predom. aluminum & steel; rubber tires; plexiglass (?) windows

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

N/A

Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Aviation

Category

Aircraft

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Waco

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Ohio

City

Troy

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

Waco Cabin (as opposed to open cockpit) airplanes built between 1931 & 1946. This airplane built in Oct. 1942 & still in use at time of acquisition.

Canada

Representative of a type of airplane used for bush flying in Canada. Cabin class aircraft designs were introduced in the mid-1920s and became common in the 1930s. Because of their closed cockpits, which provided protection from the elements for the pilot, and the roomy interiors for cargo, they were quickly adopted for bush flying in Canada. More than 50 bush flying companries used Waco cabin biplanes. This popularity is notable since high wing monoplanes, which could more easily avoid docks and brush when landing and taking off, were the standard configuration for bush planes. This VKS-7F was built for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in the U.S.A. and served as a navigational trainer until 1945. It had 1000 hours on the airframe when it was sold into civilian hands. It then had four American owners before it was imported into Canada in 1959. It had three Canadian owners before it was acquired by the donor. This airplane the only cabin biplane registered as airworthy in Canada at time of acquisition.

Function

Aerial transportation. This model popular for bush flying and business travel. This airplane used as navigational trainer during last years of WWII.

Technical

Waco first manufactured production cabin biplanes in 1931. (It had built one cabin aircraft, with open cockpit, in the 1920s). The first production model was a success and the company developed new models each year. The new models were usually based upon the previous version. The VKS-7, first produced in the 1937-1938 season, had a Continental W 670-M 240 engine. A "companion model" , the UKS-7, had the less powerful Continental W670-K 225 hp engine. The VKS-7 was spacious - its closed cabin sat two people in the front and two or three people in the back. It could be fitted with floats or skis for bush flying. It was known to be rugged, dependable, and stable, even in rough conditions. It had wider, more stable landing gear and smoother controls than previous models. It also had foot pedal wheel brakes. The VKS-7F were the only standard cabin series built with wing flaps. The museum's example has undergone a number of changes since it was built. The engine is now a 220hp Continental W-670-6A and the wings no longer have flaps.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

lettering on logo reads: "WACO/AIRPLANES"; lettering painted on both sides of rudder and underside of lower port wing reads: "C-FLWL";

Missing

Artifact is complete.

Finish

predom. cream coloured; broad red stripes with thin gold border along length of fuselage on both sides, around cowling; on wheel fenders & along leading edge of wings; red lettering & insignia; black wheels

Decoration

Waco Airplanes logo painted on both sides of vertical stabilizer (lettering between outstretched wings)