The Waco 10/GXE/Waco O series was a range of three-seat open-cockpit biplanes built by the Advance Aircraft Company, later the Waco Aircraft Company.
| Waco 10 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Waco 10 giving joy rides. | |
| Role | light passenger transport |
| Manufacturer | Advance Aircraft Waco Aircraft Company |
| Designer | Charles Meyers |
| First flight | 1927 |
| Introduction | 1927 |
| Produced | 1927–1933 |
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Design and development
The Waco 10 was a larger span development of the Waco 9, both single-engined three-seat single-bay biplanes constructed around steel-tube frames. The wing covering was fabric, and both upper and lower planes carried ailerons, which were strut linked. The two passengers sat side by side in a cockpit under the upper wing and ahead of the pilot, who had a separate cockpit. It had a split-axle fixed undercarriage and a tailwheel. The main undercarriage was fitted with hydraulic shock absorbers, unusual at the time on a light aircraft. The fin could be trimmed on the ground to offset engine torque, and the tailplane could be trimmed in flight. Initially it was powered by a Curtiss OX-5 water-cooled 90° V-8 engine producing 90 hp (67 kW).
Its first flight was in 1927. It was numerically the most important type to be built by Waco, with at least 1,623 built over a period of 7 years from 1927 to 1933 and was fitted with a very large variety of engines of radial and V configuration.
Operational history
The Waco 10 turned out to have excellent handling, and there was a ready supply of war-surplus Curtiss engines. It was widely used for the popularisation of aeronautics through barnstorming and joyrides, and was also much used as a trainer and by small operators for charter flights.
Variants
In 1928, after the Waco 10 had entered production, Waco changed its designation system so that the basic model 10, powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 engine became the GXE.
Later aircraft used three-letter designations, the first denoting the engine (except for the two mailplanes), the second denoting the wing installed, S or T meaning Straight or Tapered wing, and the final O indicating it was a derivative of the 10. An -A suffix indicated an armed variant intended for export.
| Early Designation | Post-1928 Designation | Marketing Designation | Engine | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | GXE | 90 | Curtiss OX-5 | 90 hp (67 kW) |
| 10-W | ASO | 220-T | Wright J-5 | 220 hp (160 kW) |
| 10-T | ATO | Wright J-5 | 220 hp (160 kW) | |
| BSO/BSO-A | BS-165 | Wright J-6-5 | 165 hp (123 kW) | |
| CSO | C-225 | Wright J-6-7 | 225 hp (168 kW) | |
| CTO | Wright J-6-7 | 225 hp (168 kW) | ||
| 10-H | DSO | Hispano-Suiza 8A or E | 150–180 hp (110–130 kW) | |
| HSO | Packard DR-980 Diesel | 225 hp (168 kW) | ||
| HTO | Packard DR-980 Diesel | 225 hp (168 kW) | ||
| JTO | Wright J-6-9 | 300 hp (220 kW) | ||
| JYM | Mailplane | Wright J-6-9 | 300 hp (220 kW) | |
| JWM | Mailplane | Wright J-6-9 | 330 hp (250 kW) | |
| KSO | Kinner K-5 | 100 hp (75 kW) | ||
| OSO | Kinner C-5 | 210 hp (160 kW) | ||
| PSO | Jacobs radials | 140–170 hp (100–130 kW) | ||
| QSO | Continental A70 | 165 hp (123 kW) | ||
| RSO | Warner Scarab | 110 hp (82 kW) | ||
| 240-A | Continental W-670 | 240 hp (180 kW) | ||
| 300-A | 300 hp radial | 300 hp (220 kW) |
Apart from the water-cooled V-8 Curtiss and Hispano-Suiza engines, all of the rest were air-cooled radials.
Other engines were fitted experimentally, without unique designations, including the Rausie, Ryan-Siemens, and 115 hp (86 kW) Milwaukee Tank engine. This last engine was an air-cooled version of the Curtiss OX-5, and was intended as an aircraft engine.
The JYM and JWM were mailplane derivatives with a 14" fuselage stretch.
In the 1990s the unrelated The WACO Aircraft Company in Forks, Washington offered a homebuilt kit version of the ATO model.[1]
The WACO 240-A was a straight-wing fighter, built for export, powered by 240 hp (180 kW) Wright engine. At least six were bought by the Cantonese Chinese aviation services. They were armed with twin .30 Browning machine guns and had racks for five 25 lb (11 kg) or two 100 lb (45 kg) bombs.[2]
There was also an export model WACO Pursuit 300T-A, with 300 hp (220 kW) Wright or Wasp Jr engine.[2]
Surviving aircraft
Specifications (Waco GXE)
Data from Aerofiles[22]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m)
- Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
- Airfoil: Aeromarine 2A[23]
- Empty weight: 1,199 lb (544 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,025 lb (919 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 97 mph (156 km/h, 84 kn)
- Cruise speed: 84 mph (135 km/h, 73 kn)
- Stall speed: 37 mph (60 km/h, 32 kn)
- Range: 380 mi (610 km, 330 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
(Partial listing, only covers most numerous types)
Related lists
References
Further reading
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