Waco YMF-5 (oz14486)

About this Plan

Waco YMF-5. Radio control scale model biplane.

Quote: "A Golden Age Beauty. Nobody doesn't like a biplane, and when it comes to full-size machines, the classic Waco YMF-5 is about as pretty as they come. Here's a .25 size replica in the author's unique EEE-Z-ELI style of construction. Waco WMF-5, by Al Wheeler.

During its heyday the Waco Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio turned out many outstanding aircraft, the Taperwing being one of the most famous. In the talented hands of early airshow stars the Taperwing's excep-tional aerobatic potential was exploited to the fullest, thrilling spectators from coast to coast.

In 1930 Waco introduced the F series of three-place, open-cockpit, sport/business aircraft. The first of the series were the INF Winner powered) and the RNF (Warner powered) models. Next came the F-2, a slightly larger aircraft powered by a 165-hp Continental. Many F-2s were later modified to accept the 220-hp 8670 Continental.

One such aircraft was flown on the northeast airshow circuit by Howard Dutton of Haverill, Massachusetts, an aircraft the writer had the pleasure of flying. Quite a machine for a kid in his 20s! The last of the series was produced in the late 1930s and were designated the MF-3 and the MF-5. Few F-3s were produced due to a directional control problem resulting from too-small vertical sur-faces; these were enlarged and the revised version designated the F-5, the subject of this article.

The Jacobs-powered YMF-5 would probably be considered the most beautiful of the Waco open-cockpit biplanes by today's Waco enthusiasts. The actual subject of our construction efforts, NC15241, is an F-5 that was owned for many years by the writer.

The model follows the EEE-Z-FLI concept of a basic fuselage box with formers and stringers added to produce the desired shape. Wing construction also follows the method of building the entire wing on a 1/16-inch thick sheet balsa bottom skin. The materials are common stock items with no exotics employed. Important to a biplane, the rigging is built in and if the dimensions are maintained during construction, she should fly right off the board.

The model, like the full-scale F-5, cruises with the nose clown, giving it a fast look. Takeoff requires some right rudder, with the tail coming up by itself; liftoff requires a tad of up elevator. Stalls indicate an honest airplane; straight ahead with the nose coming back up with a little speed. Glide is steady, slightly nose down and the flair and landing are without incident. Rolls, loops and any combination of the two are easily performed, as are spins and snaps.

This is an all-around fun airplane, not difficult to build and not too large to carry around, and the OS 25 engine won't eat up all your fuel in one outing to the field. The prototype draws favorable comment wherever it is flown, particularly regarding its realistic looks.

So, if you like classic bipes and want one that looks good and flies well, scratch out an EEE-Z-FLI YMF-5 and keep in touch with the Golden Age..."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Scan by MarkD, cleanup by Circlip.

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