1929 Waco CTO Taperwing

The Restoration

Restored by Frank Pavliga between 1996-2003.

From the beginning the restoration was directed towards returning the airplane to its original model CTO Taperwing configuration and conformity to ATC 257.

A new Taperwing set of wings were built… four wing panels, center section and four ailerons using original hardware and brace wires. All new wood – Sitka Spruce.

• The fuselage was rebuilt to original, (Waco drawing 7)
• The original fuselage control system was utilized
• The following new parts, assemblies and structures were built to
  print:
• Stabilizer, elevators, vertical fin and rudder
• Taperwing strut set
• Landing gear vees
• Seats, front & rear
• Fuel & oil tanks
• All fuselage wood: Formers, stringers, floor panels
• Aluminum bulkheads for fuselage cowling, aft passenger cockpit & fascia panel, instrument panel
• Firewall
• Fuselage external sheet metal and engine cowling
• The Wright J6-7 was replaced with an approved Wright R760-8

This engine is identical to original plus having accommodation for electrical accessories. This engine was used by Waco in the later Taperwing and Straightwing models, and was approved with FAA certification.

The following approved installations were made for safety and operation in the modern airspace environment:

• Tailskid replaced with tailwheel
• Original sleeve bearing wheels replaced with ball bearing models
• The aircraft was covered with the Ceconite system using the approved nitrate/butyrate system. The finish coats are original butyrate pigmented dope. The original pictures clearly show the paint & trim style, which was accurately duplicated
• The aircraft underwent a conformity inspection on May 21, 2003
  and received a Standard Airworthiness Certificate as a Waco
  model CTO on that date