Waco Mailplanes

The Waco Mailplanes are a range of two US-built open-cockpit mail biplane designs of the late 1920s.

Waco JYM and JWM
Waco JYM taper-wing mailplane in the 1929 markings of Northwest Airways mail route CAM-9
Role single-engine mailplanes
National origin United States
Manufacturer Waco Aircraft Company
Introduction 1929
Status two preserved airworthy in museums
Primary user early airlines
Number built 6

Development

In order to meet the continuing United States demand for rugged mailplanes, Waco aircraft developed two models of large biplanes during 1929, the JYM and the JWM.

The JYM was a taperwing model based on the earlier ATO design but with a 14-inch fuselage stretch to provide further cargo capacity compared with the earlier design. It was powered by a 300 h.p. Wright J-6-9 engine and had a single seat cockpit for the pilot.[1]

The JWM was a straight-wing model based on the ASO with a 14-inch longer fuselage for increased mail-carrying capacity and was fitted with a 330 h.p. Wright R-975 powerplant.[1]

Operational history

Four Waco JYM aircraft were delivered to Northwest Airways (later Northwest Airlines) in 1929 and were operated by them on the 892-mile CAM-9 airmail route from Chicago to Minneapolis via Milwaukee, Madison and La Crosse.[2] All four Waco JYM's still exist, with the third JYM NC631N on display in airworthy condition in the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum (HARM) at Dauster Field near St Louis, Missouri, wearing its 1929 NWAL CAM-9 route markings.[3]

Waco JWM straight-wing mailplane of 1929 in the markings of "Art Davis Air Circus" displayed at HARM near St Louis in June 2006

One Waco JWM aircraft was built. The sole survivor NX8550 is also preserved at HARM, wearing the markings of the "Art Davis Air Circus".[3]

Specifications (JYM)


Data from Aerofiles

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: mail or cargo
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright J-6-9 , 300 hp (220 kW)

Performance

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References
Notes
  1. Aerofiles
  2. bluegrassairlines
  3. Ogden, 2007, p. 331
Bibliography
  • Ogden, Bob (2007). Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-385-4.
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