This 2024 WACO YMF-5 Is a Modern Classic ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Nostalgic open-cockpit design is perfect for pure flying joy.

FLYING Staff

Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

2024 Waco YMF-5 [Courtesy: WACO Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

Today's Top Pick is a 2024 WACO YMF-5, a hand-built modern reproduction of an iconic 1930s biplane designed to offer an ultimate open-cockpit experience.
This aircraft blends nostalgic aesthetics, like its open cockpits and flying wires, with modern construction, materials, and advanced systems, including a powerful 300 hp Jacobs radial engine and Garmin G500 avionics with ADS-B.
With only 72 hours on the airframe since new, this WACO YMF-5 is offered at $590,000, presenting an opportunity for pilots to own aviation history with modern reliability and features, ideal for sightseeing operations.

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Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2024 WACO YMF-5.

For pilots seeking the ultimate open-cockpit experience, this 2024 WACO YMF-5 is a stunning find.

WACO brought this iconic 1930s biplane design back into production in 1986, appealing to pilots’ nostalgia with its open cockpits, flying wires, and graceful lines. This YMF Super model is a modern classic, capturing the romantic spirit of aviation’s golden age while being engineered with modern construction, materials, and systems.

This WACO stands out with its powerful 300 hp Jacobs R-755A2M radial engine, offering that unmistakable sound and performance that made the originals so appealing. The aircraft boasts a low total time of just 72 hours on the airframe since new.

2024 Waco YMF-5 [Courtesy: WACO Aircraft]

This blend of antique aesthetics and modern function continues in the cockpit. Unlike its vintage counterparts, this YMF-5 features a highly capable panel. The cockpit is equipped with a Garmin Garmin G500, Garmin 205 comm, and Garmin GTX 345R transponder providing ADS-B broadcasting capabilities.

Put together over 6,000 hours in Battle Creek, Michigan, by hand, this biplane carries on the legacy of stick and rudder aviation. The WACO has been described as the perfect aircraft for sightseeing operations.

Offered at $590,000, this 2024 WACO YMF-5 is an exceptional opportunity for a discerning pilot. It’s a chance to own a piece of aviation history without the compromises of an antique aircraft.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.