The 49th National Waco Club Reunion took place the week of June 26-29, 2008 at beautiful Wynkoop Airport in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Wynkoop Airport has been owned and maintained by the Wynkoop family since the late 1940’s and is currently owned by Brian Wynkoop. The airport literally looks like you stepped back 50 years and maintains two grass runways and sells the cheapest gas in Ohio!

What had promised to be a large turnout was hampered by a stalled frontal system that brought showers and thunderstorms around Ohio and surrounding states for the entire week, even keeping many of the local aircraft grounded. On a promising note, the weather at Mt. Vernon itself was completely VFR with rain only occurring at late at night after all aircraft had been safely tucked away.

Twenty aircraft were able to attend the gathering, representing eighteen different models. Of particular note was the attendance of twelve different Waco Cabin models ranging from 1931-1939. In terms of the Open models, the years represented ranged from 1928-1940. A noticeably unusual change was the attendance of only one Waco UPF-7, flown to the gathering by Bill & Sue Knight of Brodhead, Wisconsin (above right).

Other notable aircraft attending was the oldest Waco Cabin in existence, a 1931 model QDC, owned and flown by Tom & Chris Brown of Unity, Wisconsin, the sole-flying tri-gear Waco ZVN-8 flown by Ken Kreutzfeld of Port Clinton, Ohio (above center), and the rare Waco CRG (one of two built to win the 1930 Ford Air Tour) owned and flown by Pete Heins of Arcanum, Ohio (above right).

First-timers John and Louis Nalbone of Dunkirk, New York flew their 1931 Waco QCF-2 to the event and were the first to arrive (above left). Jim Beisner of Troy, Ohio brought his 1928 Waco ASO after a lengthy restoration (above center). Susan Theodorelos, wife of NWC President Andy Heins, flew her beautiful and very original Waco RNF to the Reunion arriving Tuesday evening (above right). Susan has the distinction of owning more Wacos then any other woman in the world, with two Waco RNF’s registered.

From the East coast came John Bussard from Ringos, New Jersey in his 1937 Waco VKS-7 (above left) and Bob Jaeger of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in his speedy and rare 1935 Waco YOC (the only one currently flying).

The Parsons family, original members since the beginning, attended with no less then three airplanes; 1931 QCF-2 flown by father Lee Parsons (above center), 1934 YKC flown by son Doug Parsons (above right) and a 1934 UKC flown by son David Parsons. Doug Parsons is officially the Vice-President of the National Waco Club and is the Reunion Chairman. Doug handles everything concerned with the Reunion each year.

Andy Heins, President of the National Waco Club
Contributing Editor & Photographer
AndyHeins@psaairlines.NET

http://www.nationalwacoclub.com/

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