Maroon antique bi-plane
One of the WACO airplanes prepares to lift off the grass runway at Wynkoop Airport on Friday in Mount Vernon. It was in town as part of the antique aircraft reunion. The pilot is seated behind the passenger. Credit: Dan Werner

MOUNT VERNON — Dodging thunderstorms and sweltering temperatures hovering in the low 90’s, pilots from all over the central United States flew their antique WACO (Wah-co) bi-planes into the Wynkoop Airport in Mount Vernon on Friday.

The 66th National WACO Club Reunion began with a fly-in that started Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Jim Wilson, who along with his wife Ileen flew their 1936 WACO Standard Cabin from their home in Cross, South Carolina, offered a brief history on his plane.

Larry and Ileen Wilson stand next to their 1936 WACO standard Cabin they flew from their home in Cross, South Carolina. Credit: Dan Werner.

“It is pronounced Wah-co like taco,” Wilson explained. “The letters stand for Weaver Aircraft Corporation.

“Buck Weaver was the guy who started the corporation and he named it after himself.” 

Wilson said that inflation has hit the bi-plane industry hard.

“When this plane was new it probably sold for $4,995, now it would go for just under $100,000,” Wilson said.

Wilson earned a degree in Engineering and worked as an engineer in the military to pay for his high-flying hobby.

“You have to have someone who supports you in this,” said Wilson, who began flying at age 18 in 1968.

His wife was a military nurse and the couple spend as much of their retirement years as they can in the air.

While the storms kept the attendance down, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who made the trip.

One of the WACO (WAH-CO) bi-planes that arrived for the reunion by the same name at Wynkoop Airport on Granville Rd South of Mount Vernon sets down for a smooth landing on the grass runway. The event runs through Sunday. Credit: Dan Werner.

Ryan Sherwood flew in from Elkhart, Indiana with his 13-year-old daughter, Amelia. His plane features an open cockpit.

He made it clear how he feels about flying.

“Airplanes are awesome, they are beautiful, they are works of art, they are fun to fly and they are fun to work on, but it really is the people,” Sherwood said. “Things like this reunion, this is our extended family.”

What is it like to pilot an open cockpit plane?

“We left this morning, the sun was just coming up. We are going over farm fields and smelling the different smells,” Sherwood said. “Seeing the different sites, reading the names on the water towers … ”

When it is time to throttle up and leave the runway, his spirit takes flight, too.

“Somebody summed it up best, it is like you have the equivalent of 10 Harley Davidson motorcycles surrounding you,” Sherwood said. “It is the ultimate convertible motorcycle.”