NC 13571 was one of only 15 F3 versions built by the Waco factory in Troy, Ohio. As noted, Waco historian Raymond H. Brandley says in his introduction to the new 1934 model, it offered “refinements in both performance and beauty” over previous models. The fuselage was lengthened and this additional length increased the room in both cockpits. Seats were made to allow the wearing of parachutes and a NACA cowling, with iconic bumps for the rocker boxes of its engine was fitted and wing root fairings were added for streamlining. An additional 20 miles per hour of cruising speed was available over the earlier F2 while retaining its climbing ability. The F3 was offered with both the Jacobs L4 engine of 225 horsepower and the Continental R670 of 210 horsepower (both engines lacked overhead oiling of the rockers and valves, requiring manual greasing every ten hours or so and are thus referred to as “greasers” – NC 13571 is fitted with the more modern and updated W670 Continental of 220 horsepower today).
Sales of Waco biplanes was declining in 1934 as the depression continued to worsen. Their aircraft were being primarily manufactured for wealthy “sportsman” pilots and this is why so few F3’s were built. Like the QCF 2 before it, there were issues with the plane’s reliably exited spins and so the vertical empennage was increased in size and all F3 were recalled to the factory for refitting. About the time this was accomplished 1935 was upon them and Waco introduced the F5 model with virtually no change from the F3.
NC13571 was manufactured on 6/6/34 as the third F3 constructed. Of the 15 planes carrying this designation 13 were equipped with Continental engines as UMF 3’s and 2 with Jacobs as YMF 3’s. On this page you can see photos of the plane at the Waco factory as it was delivered and later in 1934 during wintertime. You’ll note the fuselage design was identical to the way it looks today with Waco’s option three stripes on fuselage, wheel pants and cowl along with the custom checkered tail.
NC 13571 was sold to Lawrence Turnure of New York City, New York who subsequently assigned it to Gillies Aviation Company. After a couple of additional owners it was sold to Brian Aherne in quite the convoluted transaction.
FAA records first indicate that a Louis D. Lighton of Bel Air California (Metro Goldwyn Meyer) purchased the plane in September 1936. Next is recorded a lien in favor of Brian Aherne of the same date. As we learn later in the record Aherne was the real buyer but couldn’t purchase the aircraft directly as a foreign national.
In a letter dated 11/30/1938 Aherne writes to the Civil Aeronautics Authority saying in part “to tell you the truth” and goes on to explain his arms length ownership of the plane. I’ve attached the letter as it’s interesting to see how they went about trying to clear up the record.
According to Aherne in his autobiography, “A Proper Job” , he used the airplane to travel to and from his ranch at Thermal, California as well as to commute back and forth from Los Angeles to New York. According to letters to Dave Allen from Aherne’s grandson, Allen Aherne the plane carried many famous passengers including Aherne’s wife movie actress Joan Fontaine and famous air racer and leader of the WASP (Women’s Airforce Service Pilots) organization Jacqueline Cochran.
I’ve included photos below of Aherne with his plane in the late 1930’s as its being service in Los Angeles as well as a photo of Aherne standing in front of it after putting it on his nose.
Eventually Aherne sold the aircraft to Joe Vega of Los Angeles in February 1940 who then took out a loan against it for $1,470. Vega then sold it to Huehendorf & Lyle Flying Service in Santa Monica who then sold it to apparently another entity controlled by them and it ultimately ends up in the hands of the Defense Plant Corporation and its next significant history began as it was incorporated into the Civilian Pilot Training Program being used as a trainer in Helena, Montana by contractor Hullendorf Flying Service.
The CPTP was a program started by the federal government in the run up to World War II to train civilian pilots so the nation would have reserves to draw upon if we came into the war. Later these same contract schools shifted their focus to training new military pilots as we ramped up the Army Air Force beginning in 1940 and later. A number of aircraft, notable the Boeing biplane trainers and Waco’s own final F model the UPF 7, were built specifically for this task but many existing airplanes were purchased for training as well. This is how NC 13571 came to be a “warbird”.
It’s unknown how many pilots used the plane at Hullendorf. But according to FAA records what is known that is that it was wrecked an astounding 20 times in 36 months badly enough to require reporting to the Commerce Department! It was ground looped on landing, crashed on take-off and taxied into other aircraft. It suffered structural failure on landing and wing damage from carelessness. The plane was completely rebuilt twice and had numerous wing, aileron, fabric, propeller and engine repairs.
Eventually it was considered so worn out that its engine, propeller, avionics and other salvageable parts were stripped for use as spares and the remaining hulk was dragged into the grass next to the ramp. The plane was subsequently sold for scrap for $30 and then again for $15 but didn’t move from its neglected location. One day in 1945 the airport manager decided to burn off some grass on the airport and lost control of his fire. The remains of NC 13571 were largely consumed in the fire and what was left sat rusting for the next four decades.
In the late 1980’s Barry Branin learned of the plane and purchased what was left of it. Trucking its carcass to Los Angeles he began acquiring parts to restore it including purchasing the wings (for their hardware) from a Waco Classic YMF 5 that had crashed on a mountain in Hawaii. He then traded all of it to friend David Allen of Huntington Beach, California in partial exchange for Dave’s restoration of Barry’s 1935 YMF 5 project. Details of NC 13571’s restoration may be found here.
After Dave finished restoring the F3 in circa 2009 to 2011 as his personal aircraft he flew it occasionally out of Coronado Airport in southern Los Angeles County. In 2018 Barry Branin was assisting me in looking for a Waco antique biplane to replace the Waco Classic YMF 5 my partner Les Banta and I had sold a few years earlier. As I flew all over the country looking at Barry’s suggestions he sent me photos of NC13571 and ultimately introduced me to Dave who agreed to sell me his masterwork involving 12,000 hours of restoration labor in 2018. After flying the plane for five years I took it to Waldo Wright’s Flying Service proprietor Rob Lock to help me spruce the plane up and ready it for taking to Airventure.
Dave Allen has restored six antique airplanes and he is known by many on the West Coast but neither his plane, nor his work, was well known elsewhere. I determined to change that. Here is a photo of Dave holding the Bronze Lindy awarded to NC13571 in 2023 (it was also awarded a Silver Age Championship at Sun N Fun in 2024).
For the next phase of its history NC 13571 is in Oklahoma City’s Wiley Post Airport being cherished and flown regularly.
Written By
Tony Caldwell
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