Waco PT-14
Waco · United States · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The Waco PT-14 was a biplane primary trainer produced by the Waco Aircraft Company for the US Army Air Corps, designed to provide the first stage of military pilot training.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.37 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane primary trainer selected by the US Army for pilot training
- Tandem open cockpits with tapered wings and radial engine
- Part of the interwar US Army primary trainer competition series
Conventional biplane trainer with open tandem cockpits, radial engine, fixed undercarriage, and tapered wings typical of 1930s American military biplane trainers.
Specifications
- The Waco PT-14 has a length of 7.37 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.45 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 217 km/h (135 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Waco competed in several US Army primary trainer competitions of the late 1930s, producing a series of similar biplane trainers under PT designations. The PT-14 was evaluated in 1939 but was not selected for large-scale production, as the Army ultimately standardised on the Stearman PT-17 and Ryan PT-22. Waco's PT-series aircraft were nonetheless sound designs that influenced primary training doctrine.
Variants
Related to other Waco PT-series aircraft including the PT-14 and variations with different engines; the UPF-7 was a similar civil biplane.
Where you'll see it
Operated in limited numbers by the US Army Air Corps for evaluation; no large-scale service entry.
Related aircraft
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