WACO

WACO Historical Society Membership Form
YES! I am pleased to:
[ ] become a member of WACO Historical Society [ ] renew my membership in WACO Historical Society
[ ] Student $15
[ ] Family $45 [ ] Individual $30
[ ] Partner $60 [ ] Supporter $100
[ ] Contributing $250
WACO
AIRPLANES
Troy, Ohio
[ ] Benefactor $500
[ ] Life $1000
WACO
AIRPLANES
Troy, Ohio
WACO Historical Society, Troy, Ohio
All memberships and donations are tax deductible.
WACO Historical Society is a privately funded, nonprofit open to the public and dedicated to education. We depend solely on your contributions
and membership fees, as well as interest from our endowment, program fees and grants. Family Memberships cover parents and children or
grandchildren of the members. Members receive:
• Free Admission to the WACO Air Museum and discounts on events throughout the year.
• Use of the Museum Library.
• Quarterly WACO Word newsletter informing you of WACO Historical Society/ Learning Center activities,
WACO aircraft news and previews and reviews WACO Air Museum exhibits and programs.
[ ] I would like to volunteer my time at WACO in the following ways;
[ ] Museum, [ ] Aircraft Restoration, [ ] Special Events, [ ] Learning Center
Please send to:
[ ] other________________________
WACO Historical Society
1865 S. County Rd. 25A
Troy, OH 45373
________________________________________
For Office Use:
Date Received:___________ Amount:_________
Check Number:__________ MCS:____________
Phone:__________________________________
E-mail Address: ___________________________
Troy, Ohio
www.wacoairmuseum.org
Summer 2013
WACO Experimental Aircraft by Val Dahlem
[ ] I would also like to contribute an additional $ ____________for the following:
[ ] Operations [ ] Special Events [ ] Learning Center [ ] Endowment Fund in memory of: (optional)_______
Address: ________________________________
AIRPLANES
Did You Know?
Names on membership cards: ____________________________________________________
Please make checks payable to: WACO Historical Society Inc.
Name(s): _______________________________
WACOWord
WACO
A new aircraft configuration
was recently uncovered in the
WACO library. The files are part
of our collection of company
artifacts. The proposed aircraft,
named the RFB, bears a strong
resemblance to the one-of-akind aircraft produced in 1940
as the RPT. It was probably
developed by the same team
that designed the RPT. The new
aircraft was described in
WACO Report No. 1180,
dated 11/20/1930.
Only the basic
performance estimates
and a 3-view drawing
are contained in the
report. The aircraft is a
drastic departure from
the products WACO had
produced to that time. It
shows the engineering
department was looking
forward to a new era in
aviation. The proposal
probably was shelved due
to the press of producing
500 UPF-7’s for the Civilian
Pilot Training Program.
However, one wonders
why this aircraft design
was not considered for
post war production. The
performance would have
been demonstrated by
the flight test data from
the RPT. Construction
features would have
1
been similar to other WACO
products, with a plywood
covered wing reminiscent of
the RPT and the Model E Cabin.
Costs could be accurately
estimated based on the RPT
experience. This aircraft stands
with the proposed high-wing
monoplane modification of the
VKS-7 designed by assistant
chief engineer Max Baker in
1944. The decision was made to
develop the Model W instead.
Uncertainties in performance
and costs, along with new
manufacturing methods, led to
its demise.
So why did WACO devote all
its engineering talent and war
profits to the Model W instead
of a near-term, less expensive
aircraft? You would have to ask
Mr. Brukner about that!
Return Service Requested
WACO Historical Society, Inc.
1865 S. County Rd. 25A
Troy, OH 45373
Troy, Ohio
AIRPLANES
WACO
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Troy, Ohio
Permit No. 319
A Word from the Director
by Gretchen Hawk, Executive Director
We are excited about all the
new changes here at WACO.
We are sad to say goodbye to
Lisa Hokky, Learning Center
Director. Under Lisa, the
Learning Center has grown
by leaps and bounds. She can
be proud of all the successful
events she brought to WACO.
Her family is moving to Atlanta,
GA and we wish her well. The
new Director, Nancy Heiss
has already started training
with Lisa and is ready for a
busy summer. We have an
unprecedented five weekends
of bi-plane rides planned for
the summer and hope to see
record-setting numbers of
riders.
A big thank you goes out to
our new group of volunteers:
Alan Leingang, Lou Pauly,
Colleen Harris, Laurel Booher
& Steve Kerce. Along with
our “old” volunteers: Steve
Shaurer, Blaine Johnson, Garey
Yunker and board members –
Les Howe, Dave Bucher, John
Schilling & Greg Leach doing
field maintenance, we are off to
a good start.
It’s going to be a great season
at WACO. Come join us!
Wish List
Everyone has a wish list and
WACO is no exception. Our
current list is: 2 drawer file
cabinet, old pick-up truck or
box type truck, folding chairs
and games to use at the picnic
shelter. WACO is a 501(c3) and
all donations are tax deductible.
Picnic Shelter
Donations
As you know, WACO thrives in
large part due to the generous
donations of individuals. A
HUGE thanks to the following
for their recent monetary
donations:
Brett Hunter,
Cliff Robinson,
Emerson Stewart III
Erika Schaffer. Thanks also to
Peg & Jeff Welbaum for giving
us a microwave.
WACO Trustees 2012-2013
Committee Chairpersons & Staff
LC Director
Nancy [email protected]
Airport Manager
Master Site Planner
Museum Curator
Gift Shop
Fly-In 2012
WACO Word
John Schilling ........... [email protected]
Trustees at large
Jim Pelton ................. [email protected]
Les Howe ................. [email protected]
John Schilling ........... [email protected]
Greg Leach .............. [email protected]
Patty Wagner ........... [email protected]
Ken Ott ..................... [email protected]
Dave Bucher
Don Willis
Andy Heins
Patty Wagner
Don Delcamp
Gretchen Hawk
WACO
AIRPLANES
Troy, Ohio
2
Lundgard
Charitable
Trust
Miami County
Visitors Bureau
New Members
A big WACO welcome to our
newest members:
James Watren of Sidney, OH,
John Sullivan of
Palmetto Bay, FL,
Susan & Alan Ray of
Brookville, IN
John Ohlemacher of Troy.
The shelter is available for rent and is already in use for graduation parties. It has 2 bathrooms, electric
and an outside sink. There is plenty of parking! Plan your next reunion or other event by calling now to
reserve. 937-335-9226
President
David [email protected]
Vice President
Don [email protected]
Executive Director
Gretchen [email protected]
Treasurer
Don [email protected]
Recording Secretary
WACO could not function without the financial and in-kind support of our corporate and foundation sponsors.
These companies and charitable foundations provide vital support in many tangible and intangible ways
for WACO’s mission of historic preservation, education and community service.
On behalf of the board and the community…we thank you.
Hartzell Norris
Foundation
FINFROCK
INC.
Paul G. Duke
Foundation
Cancer Patient Elmer Jordan Takes a Flight at WACO
Thanks to Hospice
of Miami County
Staff and pilot Blane
Miller, Elmer Jordan
got his wish to take
an airplane ride on
May 13 at Historic
WACO Field. A former
pilot, Mr. Jordan has
been battling with
esophageal cancer.
He has been a regular
visitor for the WACO
Adult Lecture Series at
the WACO Air Museum.
We wish him well on
his recovery.
7
what’s happening at waco
Adult Lectures Series
The April Adult Lecture Series speaker was
Robert Supinger who told of his first-hand
experiences during the Berlin Airlift.
The May Adult Lecture Speakers were Bob
Burkman and Jim Miller, Distinguished
Flying Cross recipients.
WACO Welcomes
New
Learning Center Director
Nancy Heiss has joined the staff as the
new Learning Center Director for the
WACO Historical Society as of May
1st. She brings with her a wealth of
experience with education and business.
She taught in a private school for 4
years, and then she homeschooled her
4 children. Her business experiences
include Creative Memories, School on
the Rock, and Anjanette’s Chocolates
and Artisan Gifts. The skills that she has
acquired make her a great asset to WACO.
Welcome Nancy!
6
TOP WING
A coworker new to the Dayton
area mentioned the other day
that he recently had a very
troubling dream in which
he became allergic to grass
runways. This was shortly
after some refresher duel in
a J3 at Red Stewart Airport
in Waynesville Ohio. This
paradise in his new backyard
was being snatched away just
as he is arriving at a point in
his life where he can follow
his passion of tail wheel
aircraft on grass. I think that it
is safe to say that most people
reading this newsletter share
that passion and understand
how troubling such a dream
would be.
Last year my work took Donna
and me to Iceland where
we came across a group of
people who are living that
passion to the fullest in a
country that is not necessarily
conducive to grass roots
aviation. Out for a drive
on Sunday afternoon, we
came across a small grass
runway north of Reykjavik so
we stopped to take a look.
Seeing J3’s and such through
the hangar windows and
hearing voices from inside,
we knocked on the hangar
door and were immediately
welcomed inside. An hour or
so of hangar visiting and story
telling led to an invitation
by our new friends to see
their restoration project the
next day at the Reykjavik
downtown airport.
by
David Bucher, President
Photo courtesy Mike Ullery.
One of the first commercial
aircraft in Iceland was a cabin
Waco delivered new from
Troy with the tail number
TF-ORN. ORN is long gone
to whereabouts unknown
however our new friends
believe that the history of
TF-ORN is a story that needs
telling. So they are bringing
ORN back to life through the
restoration of another Waco
cabin on floats just like the
original. The restoration is
being accomplished in the
EAA hangar at the downtown
Reykjavik airport.
They have documented the
history of ORN in a book that
the group sent back with us
for the Waco library. Now if
we can just find someone who
can translate Icelandic print.
Iceland is a place most people
do not think of visiting but is
a place where you should. It is
a beautiful country filled with
wonderful people and good
food. So if you make it there
stop by the EAA hangar and
take in the rebirth of ORN. I
am sure the folks there will be
glad you did.
So in a land where avgas
costs over $12 a gallon, where
parts & tooling are flown in
Icelandair employee baggage
and the wind often blows like
a Kansas tornado, a Waco
cabin will soon return to the
air thanks to a passion we
all share. It is why we mow
runways, restore airplanes,
run museums, and go to
Oshkosh and the Waco Fly-In.
Grass runways and tail wheel
aircraft are alive and well
in Iceland just like at Waco
Airfield. The world really is not
that big after all.
Hope that you have the
opportunity to come out and
share in that passion by taking
in all that will be happening
this summer at Waco.
We are sad to report the death of member
John H. Permenter of Troy, OH.
3
Aerospace Occupations Program Dedication
On May 2, representatives
were on hand to witness the
dedication of the Aerospace
Occupations program at
the Upper Valley Career
Center. This program was
funded through the Paul
G. Duke Foundation and
implemented with the help
of WACO Historical Society.
The first graduating class
of students was present
for the ceremony which
started at the Upper Valley
Career Center and ended
at the Sidney Airport. They
will continue their careers
in aviation at post graduate
institutions, and we wish
them good luck. It is exciting
to see the program succeed
and grow with more students
joining the program in the
fall!
Over 400 Troy City School 6th graders descended upon
WACO Air Museum in early May to learn about WACO
history, RC airplanes, the principles of flight, and paper
rockets. Thank you to our volunteers: John Burnside,
Rachel Currie, Val Dahlem, Judy Deeter, Blaine Johnson,
Jack Pounds, and Hunter Russell.
Boy Scouts enjoy shooting
Bottle Rockets during the Boy
Scout Camporee in April.
Participants in the ceremony also included State Representative
Dick Adams, the Board from the Duke Foundation, Sidney
Airport representatives, Upper Valley Career Center
representatives, WACO Historical Society representatives,
among others.
The Troy Noon Optimists
sponsored the annual
Family Kite Fly on May 5th.
Area middle school teachers learned hands-on lessons for their classrooms at the two-day
WACO Teacher Workshop sponsored by the Hartzell Norris Foundation.
Instruction was provided by Susan Kohler, a NASA Education Specialist.