Waco Classic Aircraft Expands Product Line To Include Second Aircraft Design

Waco's Pete Bowers let us know it was in the works but the reality of the announcement is no less sweet... as the anticipation was killing us. One of the sweetest-flying bipes of all time, the Great Lakes Model 2T-1A-1/2, is returning to the world of certified serial production... and this Great Lakes fan (who got much of his earliest aerobatic training in one of these well-mannered bipes) couldn't be more pleased.

The new Great Lakes Model 2T-1A-1/2 is a fully aerobatic 180 horsepower aircraft targeted at pilots and flight schools looking for a highly capable aerobatic aircraft with docile handling attributes. The aircraft was most recently produced in the 1980, and is type certificated in the aerobatic category.

The design and construction techniques are very similar to the current Waco YMF-5D biplane produced by Waco Classic; however, the airplane is smaller and features simple avionics and systems. Several improvements to the earlier design are planned, including changing from the current wood spar to a new aluminum spar, upgrading the brakes, avionics updates and serviceability improvements.

Preliminary pricing for the Touring model fitted with a Lycoming IO-360-B1F6 is $219,000. The higher performance Sport model will feature the Lycoming AEIO-360-B1F6 engine, priced at $239,000. Bowers tells ANN that current plans call for them to introduce the airplane during this year's spring fly-in festivities, with production starting late int he summer of 2011, and first deliveries in early 2012.

The new Great Lakes annual sales are expected to be 10 to 12 aircraft a year and require an additional 20 production technicians, engineers and support staff. Waco Classic Aircraft Corporation, founded in 1983 and located in Battle Creek, Michigan, is the state’s only manufacturer of FAA-certified GA flying machines.

FMI: www.wacoclassic.com, www.wacoclassic.com/greatlakes.html