Meet miss emily
WACO UPF-7 - Elegance of a bygone era
Share the adventure together aboard Miss Emily, our beautifully restored Waco UPF-7 biplane. The front cockpit allows two guests to fly side-by-side making an unforgettable experience for couples, families, friends, or anyone wanting to experience the magic of open-cockpit flying together. Flying in a Waco is more than a ride — it is a step back in time.
In the late 1930s and 1940s, the WACO was admired for its smooth handling, comfort, craftsmanship, and distinctive styling. These qualities captured the spirit of classic era aviation and helped establish it one of the most respected civilian aircraft of its time.
The name “WACO” (which rhymes with “taco”) comes from the initials of the Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio, founded in 1920 by George “Buck” Weaver, E.J. “Sam” Junkin, and Clayton Bruckner. Designed as a pilot-training aircraft, the first Waco UPF-7 rolled off the factory line in Troy, Ohio, in 1937.
About 600 WACO UPF-7s were built and used for training, including for the Civilian Pilot Training Program which aimed to prepare 100,000 pilots in case of war, as well as for the Tuskegee Airmen. It is estimated that 90% of the first pilots in the American Armed Forces during the early years of the WW2 trained in UPF-7s. After Boeing received the contract to produce nearly 10,000 Stearmans, with narrower, taller landing gear helping speed the selection of Air Force pilots, Weaver Aircraft Company was assigned to build the CG-4A troop carrier glider.
Today, Miss Emily continues to do exactly what she was built for — flying. Carefully restored and maintained, she offers you the rare opportunity to experience authentic vintage aviation while taking in the scenery of central Alberta from the open cockpit of a true classic aircraft.
AVAILABLE NOW!
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