Waco N series

The Waco N series is a range of 1930s American-built cabin biplanes with a fixed tricycle undercarriage produced by the Waco Aircraft Company.

Waco N series
Airworthy 1938 Waco AVN-8 cabin biplane with fixed tricycle undercarriage at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Creve Coeur Airport near St Louis
Role Four-seat tricycle undercarriage cabin biplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Waco Aircraft Company
First flight 1937
Status a few still airworthy in 2009
Primary user private owner pilots
Number built approx 20
Developed from Waco C series

Design and development

Waco introduced the luxury N-series biplane in 1937. It was based on the Waco C-series five-seat custom-cabin Waco with that model's curved pointed wings, but with an unusual fixed tricycle undercarriage and a modified tail with a lower rudder extension to give increased side area. The Waco N was fitted with flaps on all four wings to improve the aircraft's landing characteristics.[1]

Operational history

The prototype, was designated ZVN-7, with the '7' indicating its year of manufacture (1937), and was powered by the 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-5 engine.[2] Only around 20 examples of the N series were completed, as the AVN-8, and ZVN-8. A few were impressed by the USAAC during the Second World War as the UC-72J and UC-72L. One AVN-8 was used by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, Hampshire, for trials with tricycle landing gear.

An example of the AVN-8 is maintained in airworthy condition by the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum at Creve Coeur Airport near St Louis Missouri.

Variants
ZVN-7 and ZVN-8
285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-5
AVN-8
330 hp (246 kW) Jacobs L-6 engine

Specifications (AVN-8)
Waco ZVN-7 3-view drawing from L'Aerophile January 1938

Data from Green, 1965, p. 306

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in (10.59 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
  • Wing area: 246 sq ft (22.9 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,493 lb (1,131 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Jacobs L-6 seven-cylinder radial air-cooled , 330 hp (250 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 161 mph (259 km/h, 140 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 151 mph (243 km/h, 131 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 14,200 ft (4,300 m)
  • Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)
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References
Notes
  1. Simpson, 2001, p. 575
  2. Green, 1965, p. 306
Bibliography
  • Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.
  • Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.


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