The popular image of the biplane (that’s an airplane with two wings) focuses on World War I when daring young men in open-cockpits braved the elements to develop aerial warfare. Following the war, many of the former military pilots turned to barnstorming, a popular form of entertainment in which pilots, perhaps better called “stunt pilots,” would perform tricks with their airplanes. This reinforced in the mind of the public of the biplane as having an open cockpit flown by daredevils. As airplanes became more common and became used for transportation, not just putting on acts, closed cabins became the norm as did single wing aircraft. The biplane, however, did not disappear in this new era and several manufacturers designed biplanes with closed cabins for civil and commercial use. Two of these aircraft are on display at the Port Townsend, Washington, Aero Museum.
1936 Waco YKS-6:
The “Cabin Waco” was considered a versatile airplane for work, business, or play. The YKS-6, which sold for $4,995, was considered among the best of the Wayco series of biplanes. It has a cruising speed of 130 mph.
The Waco Aircraft Company started off as the Weaver Aircraft Company in Lorain, Ohio in 1920. The new aircraft business was formed by barnstorming pilots Charley Meyers and George Weaver and businessmen Clayton J. Brukner and Elwood Junkin. When Weaver left the company in 1923, they changed the name to the Advance Aircraft Company and moved to Troy, Ohio. In 1928 or 1929, the name was changed to Waco Aircraft Company. Waco was the first aircraft company to use assembly line production.
In the history of American aviation, Waco gained a reputation as the producers of rugged and reliable aircraft. Their planes were popular with business people, postal services, and explorers. In 1930, Waco began producing closed-cabin biplane models.
1937 Beech C17B Staggerwing:
Walter Beech and his wife Olive Ann Beech founded the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas in 1932. Their first Beechcraft airplane, which they developed with designer Ted Wells was the Model 17 Staggerwing.
This is one of the classic aircraft of the 1930s and its nickname—Staggerwing—comes from the fact that the two wings are staggered. It has retractable landing gear and five seats. It is a fast, high altitude, aerobatic aircraft with a top speed of 185 mph and a cruising speed at 7,500 feet of 175 mph.
The first Staggerwing flew in November, 1932 and the company eventually manufactured 750 of them. The airplane was designed to be used as an executive aircraft. Unlike many other aircraft of this era, it had retractable landing gear and careful streamlining.
Produced at the height of the Great Depression, the Staggerwing was an expensive machine: it has a price tag of $14,000 to $17,000. Each plane was custom-build by hand and featured a cabin trimmed in leather and mohair.
