Happiness is finding just the right angle. These two aircraft and the American flag line up as well as I could ask in this picture from the WACO Air Museum.
The small wooden plane held aloft is a reproduction of the 1919 WACO Cootie, a high wing parasol type aircraft. With its short wings and two cylinder engine, it barely flew but is an important piece of WACO history. Just two of these planes were ever manufactured and the plans have been lost to time so the man who built it did so based off of pictures.
The stunning red and white airplane in the foreground is the 1929 Goodrich Taperwing, a modern beauty and literal showpiece for this museum. It is gorgeous and it looks like it could do anything a good pilot asks it to do.
Lt. Joe Mackey and the US Army Air Corps flew this plane in the 1936 International Aerobatic Competition in Paris. It won, securing the WACO name in the world of higher performance aircraft.
Airplanes aren’t meant to be photographed in museums with their harsh light and other planes jockeying for attention in the background. They’re meant to be captured soaring high above, stretching their wings and inspiring those bound to earth to reach toward the heavens.
Yet, I was pleased with this photo and the way the Cootie perhaps smiles down on its descendants. The taperwing wouldn’t have been possible if not for the early designs of planes like the Cootie.
And, of course, modern aircraft wouldn’t be what it is today without companies like WACO. I’m grateful for the museum and for this image to help preserve memories of the day.
If you’ve ever wondered what a time machine looks like, I’m pretty sure I rode in one yesterday. This magic ride was in a nearly century old airplane called the Ford Tri-Motor.
Ford designed this plane in 1925, producing just 199 of them before suspending production in 1933.
Think about it. Just 199 of these planes were ever made. Many are museum pieces. Some have been lost to time.
Only a handful remain airworthy today and I got to ride in one!!
This plane is a product of a time when air travel was accessible only to the wealthy. You wouldn’t be allowed to board this plane in casual clothes as people were expected to dress up for travel. People wore their Sunday best when traveling and flying was an expensive, special occasion.
The plane is all metal construction with elegant wood paneling inside the cabin. The seats in this plane have been upgraded from the original wicker seats and were comfortable. There are curtains at the windows and each seat has a light and air conditioning. There’s even a lavatory in the back with an incredibly narrow door.
I have read that passengers back in the day were treated to lavish food and drinks even though I can’t imagine where that might have been stored in this cramped, narrow space.
Before taking off, our pilot demonstrated accessing the luggage hold – in the wings! That was a helpful reminder of how little baggage people carried with them back in the day. My typical carry-on bag would barely fit in there and would leave no room for anyone else’s stuff.
I was on the first flight of the day – there were twelve passengers including one who paid extra to sit in the co-pilot’s seat. I found it surprisingly comfortable given the age of the plane and the fact that three large motors are pretty noisy.
From inside this plane, looking out at a largely rural area below felt like I had slipped back a century to view the world in a whole new way.
You do fly relatively low. In this picture from around landing, it looks like the plane and the shadow are racing!
It was an extraordinary ride.
I also want to give my pilot credit for the most gentle landing I have ever experienced in any plane- big or small. It was smooth, like melted butter.
This plane is based at Port Clinton, Ohio. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) pays to travel with it, giving rides at local airports across the region every year. My friend Darlene is involved with the EAA and was key to bringing it to Chillicothe this weekend.
Want to take a ride? You can do it today at the Ross County, Ohio Airport or check the schedule for another upcoming opportunity. Check that out here. You can find information on other EAA events on their website too. And boy, they do some great events.
If you’re on the fence, it’s worth the drive, the money or whatever else you’re worried about. I seriously considered taking a second ride before we even landed. That’s how much I enjoyed the experience. Instead, I settled for watching it take off and land before heading out on the next part of my Saturday adventure.
If given the opportunity, I will absolutely go again and encourage you to go enjoy it as well. After all, how often do you get to fly in a time machine?
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