WACO Great Lakes 2T-1A-2

How does going back to the golden days of aviation sound? Well, it’s possible when you fly in the WACO Great Lakes. The open-cockpit, the aerobatic biplane is a classic throwback. If you’d love to see one in person, visit our Tennessee flight school and you may find yourself in the pilot’s seat of one of these rare beauties. CTI’s WACO Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 is used for training our students in upset prevention and recovery. 

The first Great Lakes models were manufactured in 1929 and were one of the most popular aircraft of the day. However, in 1933, the company went out of business and production stopped. The model enjoyed a revival in 1973 and went into production for another 9 years. Over three decades later in 2011, WACO received certification to put the model back into production yet again, and the first WACO Great Lakes 2T-1A-2s began rolling out in 2013.

How Does the New WACO Great Lakes Compare to the Original? 

The exterior of the aircraft remains relatively unchanged from the original 1920s model. However, the interior has undergone some slight modifications to create a more comfortable ride. 

The original heel brakes in the rear cockpit have been replaced with easier toe brakes. The windscreens have been made a little higher to promote more wind deflection. The heater is updated, which is always welcome in an open-cockpit aircraft. The pilot’s seat has also been reclined by four inches freeing up more space. 

Because it’s a fully aerobatic aircraft, the WACO Great Lakes must have superb handling. The 180 hp Lycoming AE10-360-B1G6 engine provides plenty of power. The controls are simple but provide you with all that you need and feature a JPI EDM 930 integrated electronic engine instrumentation and Garmin and Trig Avionics.

Notable Stats

Length: 20ft 4in

Wingspan: 26ft 8in

Height: 7ft 4in

Gross Weight: 1,800 lbs

Propeller: Hartzell Constant Speed

Cruise speed: 110 mph

Range: 300 miles

Rate of climb: 14000 ft/min

Want to Fly a WACO Great Lakes 2T-1A-2? 

You don’t see a lot of aircraft like the WACO Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 today. In fact, it’s one of the only two open-cockpit, two-place production aircraft on the market. 

Want to experience the rush of the WACO Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 for yourself? Get in touch to book your discovery flight today!