1940 Waco UPF-7
Waco built over 600 UPF-7s, most of them for the Civilian Pilot Training Program, before many were drafted into WWII service.
The classic Waco open-cockpit trainer — graceful lines and predictable flight characteristics that convert skeptics into fans.
Waco UPF-7: A Trainer Turned Timeless Classic
The Waco UPF-7 is one of the most recognizable and well-loved biplanes ever built. With over 600 produced, these aircraft played a critical role in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) before and during World War II, helping prepare the Greatest Generation for military service. As demand for trained pilots grew in the late 1930s, the U.S. government turned to Waco Aircraft Company to provide a reliable and durable trainer—a role the UPF-7 performed flawlessly.
The UPF-7’s design evolved from earlier Waco models, incorporating key modifications to make it an ideal training platform:
✔️ A high-mounted upper wing, allowing for better visibility and easy cockpit access.
✔️ A cockpit positioned further back, giving it a distinctive, commanding presence in the air.
✔️ A wide landing gear stance, improving stability on takeoff and landing.
✔️ A rugged airframe, designed to withstand the demands of repeated student pilot landings.
Although it shares similarities with earlier Waco F-series aircraft, the UPF-7 was built specifically with military training in mind, bridging the gap between civilian aviation and military readiness.
After the war, many UPF-7s were sold as surplus to flight schools, private owners, and barnstormers, ensuring their continued use well into the modern era. Today, restored examples remain some of the most sought-after vintage biplanes, prized for their smooth handling, stability, and nostalgic appeal.
With its graceful lines and predictable flight characteristics, the UPF-7 quickly converts skeptics into fans—just ask Rob Lock, owner of Waldo Wright’s Flying Service, and a former Stearman and Travel Air enthusiast, who fell in love with the aircraft after flying one. The Waco UPF-7 proves that the company’s original 1930s slogan still holds true today: "Ask Any Pilot!"
For more information including photographs, restoration information, history, and how we came to acquire the plane go to www.DreamWacos.com
Golden Age Trainer
A computer rendering made from reference photos, not footage of the airplane
Drawn from reference photos
From every angle
See the 1940 Waco UPF-7 in person
The Collection is open Tuesday–Friday 10am–4:30pm and Saturday 10am–2pm, free admission. You can see this aircraft up close in Hangar 3, where the same shop that maintains and restores the whole Collection works on site. It's part of our flying fleet. On flying days it may be out on the line.
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