Waco Aristocraft
Waco Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1947 · light aircraft
The Waco Model W Aristocraft was an American four-seat monoplane, the last aircraft designed and built by the Waco Aircraft Company.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.63 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Engine mounted at the front driving a shaft-driven pusher propeller at the rear
- Twin fins and rudders
- Partially retractable tricycle landing gear under an all-metal high wing
A high-wing four-seater with an unusual layout: a front engine, a rear pusher propeller on a long shaft and twin fins and rudders.
Specifications
- The Waco Aristocraft has a length of 7.63 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.58 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 248 km/h (154 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was an attempt by Waco to enter the post-war light aircraft market. The all-metal prototype first flew in March 1947 with a 215 hp Franklin 6AL engine at the front driving a pusher propeller at the rear by a shaft.
Variants
Only the prototype was completed. Waco sold the design rights and in the 1960s efforts were made to market the type for home construction.
Where you'll see it
The company had orders for 300 aircraft but judged that the type needed costly development in a shrinking market. The sole prototype was bought in the early 1960s and restored to flight.
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- Waco CG-4 Hadrian
- Waco E series
- Waco N series
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- Ambrosini S.1001 Grifo
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