WACO aircraft has resurrected the Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 biplane with the flight of the first new production model in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Pilot Gabriel Valim flew the first flight in perfect weather conditions on June 9, later reporting that the aircraft exceeded all his expectations. The Great Lakes will now undergo another month of FAA testing, although the company is not expecting any problems with the design.
An improvement on a design that dates back to 1929, the new production Great Lakes is a fully-aerobatic, two-seat biplane powered by a 180 HP Lycoming engine. At sea level, the 2T-1A-2 cruises at 104 knots with a maximum speed of 132 knots.
The airframe has G limits of +5.4 to -4.0 and the engine is fitted with inverted fuel and oil systems.
Built originally by the Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, the design has been through several versions since Great Lakes went bankrupt in 1933. It was put back into production in 1972 and went through several changes of ownership until finally obsoleted in 1985.
This latest version is expected to sell for around $A250,000.