Warbird Information Exchange

John Cournoyer just added this WACO RNF custom 220 special to his collection at Creve Coeur. The airplane arrived from New York this evening just as the sun was setting. The pilot flew it all the way from NY to MO in one day. That's a lot of bug smashing in a biplane for one day.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Sweet! Hey Albert, do you have any photos/info on his Spartan Exec as well? Last I knew/saw photos, it was moving along but still disassembled. I heard it finally was moved from his house to his hangar...

kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

did Waco ever build a RNF with a 220? that seems like a big engine for a RNF.

Tulsaboy I know I still owe you a shot of the Spartan, I just keep forgetting to take the photo for you. I'll be down there on Sunday so I'll write a note to myself to get that done.

ISPYWITHMYUAVEYE you are correct, a 220 Continental is about double the HP of the original RNF's Warner. I think there is some interesting history attached to this little scooter. I'll try to get the details this weekend but it's something to do with it being built up for airshow acro by the Cole Bros Flying Circus maybe? The gear and wings are both modified along with the FWF. Looks like it would be fun to fly!

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

No. This is a bit heavy of an F. This was converted by Roy Timm for airshow work and even had extra braces on the c-section to fuselage and what you can't see in the strategically composed pics is a Cessna 170 spring steel chicken legged landing gear. Note the differently painted slave struts. It's a highly modified ship with the brand X engine mount ring and exhaust trough.

Just so y'all know what Wheels Up is talking about, here's a "strategically exposed" shot of the highly modified landing gear on John's recently acquired WACO RNF Custom Special. Anyone have any vintage photos of this critter from the old days? What year was it first modified?

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Here it is waaaaay back a few decades.....sixties perhaps?

N144Y

At least the leg streamlines give it a bit more UPF look. Note the strange cabanes and chromed interplanes.....watch that hydrogen embrittlement!

Thanks Wheels Up, that's interesting. I think a cowling came with the plane but I'm not sure if it's the one in that photo. I think it might have mounting plates for wheel pants but I'm not sure they will improve the looks. I'm afraid the cowling and wheel pants will make it look more like a PJ 260 or may an Acme Belchfire. Up close, the interplanes appear to be dull, like maybe unpainted aluminum? I had planned to have a closer look at this thing on Sunday but as I got to the a/p, I had to help chase the pigs back to the farm next door. Things went down hill from there. Sorry Tulsaboy, I did not get the photos of the Spartan but I did find out which hangar it's in. I'll get them on Monday for you.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

Here's the one that gave us the most trouble. This little piggy did not want to go home. I doubt he had any idea just how close he came to becoming a part of my next BLT. So I got a shot of the piggy but not of the Spartan.

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Albert Stix Jr.
"Work is the curse of the drinking class"

For anyone who hasn't tried to herd hogs before, the fellow in the photo is laughing at the supposedly "smarter" humans that are stalking him. They only went back to their farm enclosure after messing with the two-legged life forms for a while.

Albert-

That's outstanding! I laughed my butt off. Glad you were putting your time to good use. Chasing pigs is no fun...


kevin

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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!

I believe my father got a good look at this one when it was in NY. He mentioned it to me last week sometime, I guess it had a stay over at Akron, NY (9G3). Looks real nice!