title: Waco A series
text: # Waco A series
  
  The Waco A series is a range of light American-built twin side-by-side seater sporting biplanes of the early 1930s.
  
  ## Development
  
  The Waco A series was introduced in 1932 as an affordable private-owner aircraft with cross-country range and baggage capacity and a more sporting image than the larger Waco F series. The A series offered a number of engine options which had varying sub-designations. The power range lay between the KBA with a 100 hp (75 kW) Kinner engine and the later UBA with a 210 hp (157 kW) Continental powerplant.
  
  The PLA "Sportsman" of 1933 introduced a longer wider fuselage and a higher useful load and had a 170 hp (127 kW) Jacobs LA-1 radial engine. The last model in the series was the ULA, also of 1933, with a 210 hp (157 kW) powerplant.
  
  ## Operational history
  
  The A series was bought mainly by private pilot owners with a sporting inclination. Relatively few were produced and the type survives in small numbers in 2009. A PBA is on display in the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum at Dauster Field near St Louis, Missouri.
  
  ## Variants
  
  Data from Aerofiles
  
  ### BA series
  
  **BBA**
  
  
      165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-5 - none produced
  
  **KBA**
  
  
      100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5 - one built
  
  **IBA**
  
  
      125 hp (93 kW) Kinner B-5 - three built including one conversion
  
  **PBA**
  
  
      170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - six built
  
  **RBA**
  
  
      110 hp (82 kW) later 125 hp (93 kW) Warner Scarab - 4 built
  
  **TBA**
  
  
      160 hp (120 kW) Kinner R-5 - none built
  
  **UBA**
  
  
      210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - at least 6 built
  
  ### CA series
  
  **KCA**
  
  
      100 hp (75 kW) Kinner K-5 - possibly none built
  
  **PCA**
  
  
      170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - possibly none built
  
  **RCA**
  
  
      110 hp (82 kW) Warner Scarab - possibly none built
  
  **TCA**
  
  
      160 hp (120 kW) Kinner R-5 - none built
  
  **UCA**
  
  
      210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - none built
  
  ### LA series
  
  **PLA Sportsman**
  
  
      longer and wider fuselage and 170 hp (130 kW) Jacobs LA-1 - 4 built
  
  **ULA Sportsman**
  
  
      as PLA with 210 hp (160 kW) Continental R-670 - 1 built
  
  ## Specifications (RBA variant)
  
  Data from Green, 1965, p. 306
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: one
  * Capacity: one passenger
  * Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.4 m)
  * Wingspan: 29 ft 6 in (8.84 m)
  * Height: 8 ft 8 in (2.44 m)
  * Empty weight: 1,250 lb (567 kg)
  * Gross weight: 1,949 lb (884 kg)
  * Powerplant: 1 × Warner Scarab , 125 hp (93 kW)
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn)
  * Cruise speed: 91 mph (146 km/h, 79 kn)
  * Range: 400 mi (640 km, 350 nmi)
  * Service ceiling: 12,800 ft (3,900 m)
  * Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)
  