MOUNT VERNON — The restoration has taken nine years, but the work was done in time to fly it to Mount Vernon for the annual WACO reunion at Wynkoop Airport this weekend. Cliff Hogan, Hamilton, said all that remained to do on his 1934 UKC Cabin WACO was fairing around the lower wings.
Hogan has had his airplane since 1986, when he bought it from an estate in Hamilton. Hogan recalls the owner-pilot had passed away, and his children had no interest in flying, so the widow put the plane up for sale. Hogan flew the WACO until 1991, when the decision was made to rebuild it.
The airplane was taken completely apart, down to the last nut and bolt. The 220-horsepower Continental radial engine was sent to an engine shop for an overhaul.
Hogan had help in the rebuild — his three brothers are all pilots with extensive backgrounds in aviation. By profession, one is a corporate pilot, another a General Electric engineer who works with jet engines, and the third a dentist. All have worked on airplanes all of their lives and know how to reconstruct an antique airplane.
