Waco A series
# Waco A series

The Waco A series is a range of light American-built twin side-by-side seater sporting biplanes of the early 1930s.

## Development

The Waco A series was introduced in 1932 as an affordable private-owner aircraft with cross-country range and baggage capacity and a more sporting image than the larger Waco F series. The A series offered a number of engine options which had varying sub-designations. The power range lay between the KBA with a 100 hp (75 kW) Kinner engine and the later UBA with a 210 hp (157 kW) Continental powerplant.

The PLA "Sportsman" of 1933 introduced a longer wider fuselage and a higher useful load and had a 170 hp (127 kW) Jacobs LA-1 radial engine. The last model in the series was the ULA, also of 1933, with a 210 hp (157 kW) powerplant.

## Operational history

The A series was bought mainly by private pilot owners with a sporting inclination. Relatively few were produced and the type survives in small numbers in 2009. A PBA is on display in the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum at Dauster Field near St Louis, Missouri.

## Variants

Data from Aerofiles

### BA series

**BBA**


    165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-5 - none produced

**KBA**


    100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5 - one built

**IBA**


    125 hp (93 kW) Kinner B-5 - three built including one conversion

**PBA**


    170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - six built

**RBA**


    110 hp (82 kW) later 125 hp (93 kW) Warner Scarab - 4 built

**TBA**


    160 hp (120 kW) Kinner R-5 - none built

**UBA**


    210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - at least 6 built

### CA series

**KCA**


    100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5 - possibly none built

**PCA**


    170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - possibly none built

**RCA**


    110 hp (82 kW) Warner Scarab - possibly none built

**TCA**


    160 hp (120 kW) Kinner R-5 - none built

**UCA**


    210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - none built

### LA series

**PLA Sportsman**


    longer and wider fuselage and 170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - 4 built

**ULA Sportsman**


    as PLA with 210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - 1 built

## Specifications (RBA variant)

Data from Green, 1965, p. 306

General characteristics

* Crew: one
* Capacity: one passenger
* Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m)
* Wingspan: 29 ft 6 in (8.84 m)
* Height: 8 ft 8 in (2.44 m)
* Empty weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
* Gross weight: 1,949 lb (884 kg)
* Powerplant: 1 × Warner Scarab , 125 hp (93 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn)
* Cruise speed: 91 mph (146 km/h, 79 kn)
* Range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi)
* Service ceiling: 12,800 ft (3,900 m)
* Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)
