Why Only One WACO RPT Was Made

The aircraft was not selected for a military contract, and we found out why.

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 08:40 AM ET

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Resembling a Fairchild PT-23, the sole WACO RPT was fitted with a canopy and a more powerful engine after it was purchased by a private individual. [Photo: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

The WACO RPT was a rare monoplane prototype (one of only three built by a company known for biplanes), developed in 1940 for a USAAF training contract but ultimately not selected.
After its rejection by the military, the RPT was privately purchased and modified with a more powerful engine and a canopy, improving its usability, though a 1941 evaluation noted its original lack of power despite good maneuverability.
This sole RPT prototype remained largely unnoticed for decades until it was acquired by the WACO Air Museum in 2018 for display and preservation.

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Mention the name WACO, and most naturally envision the sturdy biplanes that were built from 1920 to 1947 and put back into production in 1983. Equipped with open cockpits and radial engines, the majority of Wacos exemplify the classic biplane. Of the thousands built, every example except three were biplanes.

The three monoplanes that were produced were each significant departures from WACO’s winning biplane formula. In 1920, the WACO “Cootie” parasol monoplane was built, flown, and crashed. In 1947, the WACO Aristocraft was built, a bizarre-looking, high-wing monoplane with a front engine that drove a tail-mounted pusher prop via a series of drive shafts.