Waco Aristocraft

Aristocraft
Role	Four-seat cabin monoplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Waco Aircraft Company
Designer	A Francis Arcier
First flight	March 1947
Number built	1

The Waco Model W Aristocraft was an American four-seat monoplane, the last aircraft designed and built by the Waco Aircraft Company. ^[1] It had an unusual configuration with an engine mounted at the front driving a pusher propeller at the rear. ^[1]

Design and development

The Aristocraft was an attempt by Waco to enter the post-war market for light aircraft. ^[1] The prototype first flew in March 1947 powered by a 215 hp (160 kW) Franklin 6AL piston engine mounted at the front with a shaft driven pusher propeller at the rear. ^[1] Of all-metal construction it was a high-wing monoplane with twin fins and rudders, It had a partially retractable tricycle landing gear. ^[1]

The company had orders for 300 aircraft but decided that the type would need costly development in a shrinking market and only the prototype was completed. ^[1] Waco sold the design rights and in the 1960s efforts were made to market the type for home-construction.

The sole prototype was eventually purchased in the early 1960s and restored to flight. ^[2]

Specifications

Data from Aerofiles.com, ^[3] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947 ^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 pax
• Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.63 m)
• Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
• Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
• Powerplant: 1 × Franklin 6AL 6-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine, 215 hp (160 kW) at 2,500 rpm
• Propellers: 2-bladed Hartzell, 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) diameter reversible pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 154 mph (248 km/h, 134 kn)
• Cruise speed: 152 mph (245 km/h, 132 kn) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
• Landing speed: 65 mph (105 km/h; 56 kn)
• Stall speed: 55 mph (89 km/h, 48 kn)
• Range: 657 mi (1,057 km, 571 nmi) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
• Service ceiling: 17,500 ft (5,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 950 ft/min (4.8 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Douglas Cloudster II
• Lockheed Big Dipper

References

Notes

1. Orbis 1985, p. 3077
2. O'Neill, Terry. "The Last Waco". Sport Aviation. No. March & April 1964.
3. "Waco". www.aerofiles.com. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
4. Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1947. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pp. 296c –297c.

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
• Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN   1-85310-194-X.