Waco ZPF 6
Specifications
- Year: 1936
- Make: Waco
- Model: ZPF 6
- Wingspan: 30 ft
- Length Overall: 22 ft 10 in
- Number of Passengers: 3 pax
- Engine Manufacturer: Jacobs L-5
- Horsepower: 285hp
- Propeller: Curtiss-Reed 55501
- Cruising Speed: 141 mph
- Maximum Speed: 156 mph
- Gross Weight: 2,650 lbs
History of Waco ZPF6
Waco Aircraft Company saw slowly dwindling sales of its open cockpit biplane models as the depression of the 1930’s wore on. This was true of practically all manufacturers who survived into the mid 1930’s as buying airplanes for sport was increasingly impractical given the economic circumstances of the times and the increasing use of closed cockpit airplanes for commercial purposes. Though Waco sold 49 open cockpit biplanes in 1935, including 41 CPF and CPF 1 airplanes to the Brazilian Army and Navy, just two were manufactured in 1936. READ MORE
Why this Waco?
I would have preferred to purchase a completed F6 as that would likely have been much faster, and almost certainly less expensive, than restoring one. Unfortunately, there is really only one “real” F6 in existence and after checking it is not likely to ever come up for sale by its museum owner. That left me with very little likelihood of being able to ever own an F6. I’ve thought about that for the last couple of years and had just about resigned myself to not being able to collect an example of all of the principal F series models…READ MORE
