Battle Creek, Michigan-based Waco Aircraft is increasing the production of its open cockpit biplanes. Waco’s CEO Sven Lepschy said at a press conference at EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, that the company has traditionally produced four to five airplanes per year. But since the company was bought by German investor Dieter Morszeck, in 2018, changes have been made to grow the business. While the manufacturing process for Waco’s lineup of antique-style airplanes is still very much hands on, the production has been streamlined and modernized. As a result, Waco will produce eight airplanes this year and 10 in 2022. Lepschy said the 2022 production slots are nearly sold out.
In 2019, a major factory expansion started at the headquarters, and it is expected to be fully completed this fall with 115,000 square feet of hangar and office space at the Battle Creek Executive Airport (KBTL). The staffing has also increased, from 22 in 2018 to 90 employees this year, Lepschy said.
