Historical WACO Field
Historic WACO Field was acquired in February of 1997 by the WACO
Historical Society Inc. with the goal of creating a vintage flying field in
the Troy community where WACO airplanes were manufactured from
1923- 1946. Local and regional businesses partnered with WACO
volunteers to provide the raw materials, heavy equipment and In-Kind
support to construct a grass airstrip specially designed for vintage
aircraft. The field was built in just seven months. After the completion of
the airstrip local, state and federal officials assisted WACO in gaining the
final approval and official designation as a public/private airport.
WACO Field was assigned the airport designation "1WF" by the Federal
Aviation Administration.
On October 10, 1997 the Annual WACO Fly-In was held
on the newly constructed WACO Field. During the
Fly-In a community Barn Raising was held to re-erect an
1856 post and beam barn originally located southwest
of Troy on Kessler-Fredrick Road. Over 250 WACO
Historical Society volunteers participated in the barn
raising. (Volunteers raising one of the "bent
sections" of the "WACO Barn" during the barn raising
event Oct 1997.) The move and reconstruction of the
"WACO Barn" as it came to be known was made
possible thanks to a generous donation from the general
fund of The Troy Foundation and serves a vital link
to the "Barnstorming Era" of aviation.
The Annual WACO Fly-In is held every year at Historic
WACO Field where WACO airplanes and other vintage
airplanes Fly-In for the weekend to meet with other
WACO owners and enthusiasts and celebrate the legacy
of the WACO Aircraft Company and the legendary
airplanes that the company produced in Troy.
The WACO Historical Society has
been in existence since 1978 and is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that
serves a dual purpose. Preservation of
the history of the WACO Aircraft
Company and the Golden Age of
Flight and the Education of young
people in the area of math, science,
technology and history, using aviation
themes as a means of enhancing
student enthusiasm.
Supporters are working to create a
genuine "living history" 1920's or 1930's
air strip, alive with the sound of radial
engines and the colorful characters of
that bygone era. Thw WACO Air
Museum showcases 4 WACO
airplanes, a WACO primary glider and
a 1902 Wright Brothers Glider replica.
Many spectacular photo murals grace
the walls of the facility with
additional exhibits that feature some
of the thousands of rare WACO
photographs from the society's
collection. WACO RC models,
interactive exhibits, radial aircraft
engines, vintage propellers,
archive
and research library and museum
gift shop. The WACO Air Museum is
also home of the WACO Learning
Center that offers educational camps,
school tours and outreach programs
to all ages.
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