Photos by Jan Morgan
Great Machines: Reissuing a Classic Biplane
June 2, 2004
Classic Aircraft’s WACO YMF Super
is the real thing. Handcrafted from steel, aluminum, wood, and fabric and
equipped with the original 275 hp Jacobs R755B2 engine, this aircraft is a work
of art. A walk around the YMF is a lesson in the standards and practices used in
the construction of fabric-covered biplanes. Knife-edged stainless steel flying
wires lace the top and bottom wings to steel struts, giving great strength to
the structure. The aesthetically pleasing, streamlined cowl that covers the
engine improves cooling and promises greater speed. The quality of the paint and
metalwork is flawless. The finished YMF is easily the equal of any grand classic
car restoration that I have seen, yet it is all new.
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The experience in the open cockpit replicates that of barnstormers in the early
20th century. (Click image to enlarge)In looking at this
beautiful machine, I felt some of that same anticipation that children must have
felt upon seeing a YMF land at a local farmer’s field. I wanted—no, needed—to
fly it. Getting in was not a simple operation, however. I found that it was a
tall step up onto the WACO’s wing. The cockpit has a high coaming, and it is
necessary to swing a leg over into the cockpit, stand on the seat, and lower
oneself into position. The forward passenger compartment has a proper door, but
the aperture is narrow and requires passengers to duck under the top wing, lean
into the front cockpit and turn, then drop into the wide bench seat. The seat
accommodates two medium-sized adults, making it a cozy place to experience a flying adventure. Of course, the YMF’s
front cockpit has flying and brake controls and instruments, making it a fine
biplane trainer.
Starting the 755 cu in Jacobs radial is simple, with a
primer and an electric starter. After about 15 minutes of warm-up, Doug
Dullenkopf of Screaming Eagle Aviation completed the engine run-up and control
checks before we rolled out onto the runway. The big Jacobs with its large wood
fixed prop accelerated the large aircraft quickly; the tail came up and the
aircraft became airborne in a few hundred feet. Using a climb speed of about 80
mph, the YMF settled down to a smooth 1,000-feet-per-minute climb as Dullenkopf
tuned in some Vivaldi on the stereo system, one of the plane’s more modern
accoutrements. The YMF has large windshields, and it was surprisingly calm in
the cockpits, making heavy clothing or goggles unnecessary on a typical spring
day in southern California.
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