Information
Landmark: Waco Air MuseumCity: Troy
Country: USA Ohio
Continent: North America
Waco Air Museum, Troy, USA Ohio, North America
Overview
In Troy, Ohio, the WACO Air Museum keeps the legacy of the WACO Aircraft Company alive, honoring its impact on both civil and military aviation in the 20th century-right down to the gleam of a polished propeller.The museum’s part of the WACO Learning Center, perched on historic ground near where the WACO Aircraft Company once roared with machinery and made Troy a bustling hub of aviation ingenuity.WACO, short for Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio, began in 1921 and shifted its bustling workshop to Troy two years later in 1923.By the late ’20s and into the early ’30s, WACO topped the charts as America’s biggest maker of civil aircraft, turning out sleek planes that caught the sunlight on freshly polished wings.The company earned a reputation for building sleek, dependable biplanes with cutting-edge features, flown by everyone from weekend hobbyists and flight instructors to barnstormers looping over county fairs and military crews.In World War II, WACO helped drive the war effort by designing and building the CG-4A military glider-a broad, engine‑less craft that slipped silently through the night to drop soldiers, crates of weapons, and gear deep behind enemy lines.More than 13,000 of these gliders rolled out of factories, carrying troops and gear into pivotal missions like the Normandy landings, where their wooden frames creaked under the weight, and Operation Market Garden.The museum honors this legacy, keeping alive the story of a company that once sent gleaming silver planes into the skies and changed the path of American aviation.The WACO Air Museum stretches across two spacious hangars, each brimming with vintage aircraft, worn leather flight jackets, interpretive displays, and detailed historical reconstructions.The layout leads visitors step by step through the company’s story, moving from early beginnings to themed displays, with each section flowing naturally into the next.The museum showcases an impressive mix of original and replica WACO aircraft, like the 1927 WACO 9 “Miss McKeesport,” an early commercial biplane with weathered wood and taut fabric wings.The 1934 WACO UMF-5 was a favorite for training new pilots and for weekend sport flying, its wooden propeller humming in the breeze.The 1936 WACO YKS-6 Cabin Biplane features a snug enclosed cabin, built to keep passengers comfortable even on breezy summer flights.WACO RPT prototype - a rare trainer built as a single, unique model with its paint still smelling fresh.The full-size replica of the CG-4A Military Glider takes center stage in its own theater exhibit, giving visitors a vivid sense of why these silent, unpowered planes played such a crucial role in WWII.1919 Cootie (replica) – a small, lightweight experimental plane that captures the daring spirit of early aviation, its frame no heavier than a pair of wooden chairs.Every plane comes with detailed signage, and often a video or interactive display that walks you through its use, how it was built, and where it fits in aviation history-even down to the whir of its old engines.Inside the restored body of a CG-4A glider, the Glider Theater surrounds you with sound and images for a fully immersive show.Visitors settle into a replica glider, its wooden frame cool under their hands, and watch grainy wartime footage alongside interviews with veterans, gaining a vivid glimpse of what it was like to ride these silent aircraft into enemy territory.The Workshop and Factory Display recreates the bustle of the WACO factory floor, letting visitors glimpse what it felt like to stand among workers riveting metal panels during the company’s peak years.You’ll find original tools, worn blueprints, faded uniforms, and sturdy workbenches-all painstakingly rebuilt from old records and photographs.Extra displays include a flight simulator where kids and adults can try their hand at biplane controls, feeling the stick shift gently under their palms.The WACO Women Exhibit honors the vital role women took on in company operations and the workforce during wartime, from assembling airplane parts to keeping offices running smoothly.A display of propellers and engines, featuring Hartzell models alongside vintage radial engines with gleaming brass fittings.Brukmobile, the rumbling refueler that kept aircraft ready for flight, was a crucial part of maintenance work.The WACO Air Museum isn’t just a place to step back in time-it’s a lively hub for learning, where you might hear the whir of a vintage propeller before joining a hands-on workshop.STEM Education runs aerospace and aviation-themed programs for students from elementary through high school, where they might build model rockets or explore flight simulations.It runs robotics clubs, teaches drone piloting, and offers flight simulations where students can hear the whir of propellers as they explore science and engineering.The Aviation Cadet Program lets teens roll up their sleeves and work on real aircraft, then climb into the cockpit to learn how to fly.Every September, the Annual WACO Fly-In draws vintage aircraft from across the country, giving visitors a chance to climb into creaky old cockpits and, on occasion, take to the skies in a historic plane.Swing dances and 1940s-style dinners bring back the WWII era with big band tunes, vintage suits, and the warm glow of candlelit tables.Living History presentations feature lively reenactments, heartfelt talks from veterans, and hands-on aircraft restoration demos where the scent of oil hangs in the air.You’ll find the WACO Air Museum at 1865 South County Road 25A in Troy, Ohio.From April through October, it’s open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekends from noon to 5 p.m., and closed on Wednesdays.Between November and March, hours shift to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. on weekends.Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors or military, $4 for students, and free for kids under four.In the warmer months, you can climb into an open-cockpit biplane and feel the wind rush past as you soar over the Miami Valley in a vintage aircraft.It’s best to book ahead-spots fill fast, sometimes days before.The museum welcomes visitors with wheelchair access, and you’ll find seating tucked into quiet corners along the way.You’ll find the gift shop and restrooms right here, just past the main entrance.In short, the WACO Air Museum mixes deep aviation history with lively educational programs and hands-on experiences, earning its place as one of western Ohio’s top historical spots, where you can almost smell the old engine oil.Visitors can trace the ingenious design of early aircraft, settle into a replica glider’s narrow seat, or feel the wind whip past during a biplane ride, all while soaking in the sights, chatter, and rich history of a groundbreaking aviation company that once ruled the skies from Troy.
