Waco Aircraft Company Ymf

Single Piston

The Waco YMF represents one of aviation's most successful heritage revivals — a faithful recreation of the classic 1930s open-cockpit biplane, returned to production in 1986 after a half-century hiatus. Built by the reborn Waco Aircraft Company in Battle Creek, Michigan, these handcrafted biplanes blend Golden Age aesthetics with modern powerplants and avionics, typically mounting a 275-300 horsepower Jacobs radial engine that delivers the authentic rumble and aroma barnstormers knew. The YMF's tandem cockpits, fabric-covered wings, and graceful lines make it the quintessential biplane for aerobatic training, airshow work, and nostalgic cross-country touring. Unlike museum pieces, the modern Waco is a fully certified production aircraft meeting contemporary FAA standards while preserving the handling characteristics that made the original famous. The type cruises around 105 knots and climbs at 1,200 feet per minute, with docile stall behavior and forgiving flight characteristics that belie its dramatic appearance. Maximum structural cruising speed sits at 140 knots, with never-exceed at 163 knots — performance that keeps pace with many modern taildraggers while delivering an experience no enclosed cockpit can match. The biplane configuration provides exceptional visibility and maneuverability, making it popular for formation flying and gentle aerobatics. Waco produces only a handful of YMFs each year, with each airframe requiring hundreds of hours of skilled craftsmanship. Owners prize these aircraft as flying art, often finishing them in period-correct color schemes with polished metal cowlings and hand-stitched leather upholstery. The type has found roles in commercial operations including sightseeing flights, warbird collections, and flight training programs seeking to preserve tailwheel and biplane skills. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.