1928 Waco CSO Words of Recognition
I remember when I went to the American Waco Club annual fly in at Poplar Grove, Illinois. Some of the first people to meet me were Dave and Jeanne Allen. They were there in an absolutely gorgeous Waco that they had restored themselves. Being the new person in any group can be a bit intimidating, and the Waco biplane group had a reputation I’d heard for being a bit insular. I found that not to be at all true and Dave and Jeanne were as friendly and welcoming as anyone I’ve ever met. When he saw my UMF 3 he said “I’m the other Dave Allen” in what I learned was his dry, self-deprecating humor.
Dave and Jeanne weren’t just friendly, they were helpful, and as I ventured deeper and deeper into Waco airplanes, I found that they were real experts, though very humble, and absolutely master craftsmen. Their YKC cabin was one of the best restorations I’ve ever seen, and I came to appreciate how respected they were for not only their restorations but their contributions to the community. They began a couple of decades earlier by building an experimental Taperwing and then restoring a 1929 Model Ten Waco, a Straightwing ASO. That airplane won many awards and carried them all over the country to airshows, fly-ins and on the 2003 Air Tour.
They had decided that they could do even better work, now that they had much more experience, and purchased NC265M from their good friends, and neighbors, Jim and Sheryl Baker as a project. The project had come to the Bakers from Bob Howie’s estate after Bob had built the wings. Jim decided he had his hands full so the project moved down Kolstad Loop at the rural airfield in Elbert, Colorado to Dave and Jeanne’s hangar.
I followed their progress as they worked first on the fuselage and then all the various fittings that go unseen under the covers when a fabric airplane is finished. They hung the motor, overhauled by the legendary Mike Connor, several times as they test fitted all the parts and pieces together multiple times. Finally, it came time to cover the plane and they began with the center section which was completed in little time to absolute perfection.
But winter was over and flying season was upon them, and all of us who love to see Waco’s gather together on grass. They began, as I did, that year at Sun N Fun in Lakeland, Florida and fabric covering was set aside for the coming winter. We talked about the next big event in Minnesota, “First Ditch” and agreed we’d see each other there. The weather kept me away but Dave and Jeanne were there. On the way home Dave had a difficult landing hitting a taxi light and tearing fabric from the bottom of his Waco ASO. A humble man he share with all of us what happened and set about repairing it.
Finishing that task they went to another fly in in Troy, Ohio in the YKC. On the way home they ran into bad weather and that flight was their last.
Their passing was a blow to hundreds of people who knew Dave and Jeanne. They left a void in the communities they were such vital parts of including the small community of Waco aircraft devotees. They also left the CSO project behind and when the family was ready to sell it, I asked if I could have the privilege of finishing the work they started. I would not do the actual restoration, as that is not a gift I possess but would ask Rob Lock to take the work on with my assistance. It was agreed that I could have the project and it is now in the museum where we will finish the work that Dave and Jeanne were intent on. Our plan is to finish it just as they intended and fly it to AirVenture as soon as possible to honor their legacy as it hopefully garners recognition for their skill as well as their memory.
As I have learned more about aviation in the 1920’s and 1930’s, the “golden age” as it is often called, I have become increasingly fascinated by the almost exponential development of aviation technology in that period. Most of the growth took place in the 1930’s, despite the terrible economy, but its roots lay in the late 1920’s as air mail, air lines and Charles Lindberg’s flight across the Atlantic served to excite entrepreneurs to build ever better airplanes. But all the growth of the 30’s stood on the designs of the 20’s, particularly the latter part of the decade when the Model 10 was designed.
As my collection of Wacos has grown I have found myself looking increasingly into the more distant past – attracted to the period before the crash, of the stock market, in 1929. Most collectors are passionately interested in things with special histories, or famous owners. I am too but of most value to me are the relationships that come with the plane’s stories. This one comes with a relationship with two special people who meant much to this generation’s Waco fans. I wanted this airplane to be finished as a reminder of who they were as much as what the airplane was, and will be again.
