By JOSH HICKLE

    MINFORD - Aviation history is being recreated at the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport.

    Waco Aircraft Company. Ohio Inc. located in Hanger 5 at the airport.  Builds reproductions of 1930's era Waco biplanes. The name Waco is derived from the Weaver Aircraft Company, Ohio.

    According to company Vice President John Kennard, The planes are reminiscent of "barnstorming" planes of the era.

    "We are building the Waco kit," he said.  "It is the full - size Waco aircraft.  It is fun to fly.  It's a vintage aircraft, and it kind of built aviation.  It was first built in Troy, Ohio."

    The Waco Company has been in business since June 2001.  It grew out of conversations between Kennard and company President Mike Fisher, who according to Kennard, has numerous aircraft flying in over 30 countries.

    Fisher and kennard retired from their jobs, and dicussed starting the company.

    "We both fly, and have flown for years," Kennard said.  "We thhought there would be a niche for the Waco aircraft.  We decided we would go into business."

    The airplanes are sold as kits.  Raw material is received to start fashioning the shape.

    "We take the raw material, and build the wings, fuselage; everything is welded and ready to be bolted together,"  Kenneard said. "The kit sells for around $100,000 without the engine.  The engines will run, depending on what you want in instruments, $18,000 to 20,000."

    The planes use two types of engines, a 220 horsepower Continental or a 275 horsepower Jacobs.  The differance between the two, Kennard said, is horsepower and cruising speed.  TheWaco aircraft can seat two people in the front of the plane with the pilot in the back.

    So far, there have been no buyers for the vintage airplanes, but the company is now starting to advertise.

    "We haven't sold anything, yet, in that we haven't really been ready," Kennard said,". "We do have a lot of activity- people coming and looking at it.  We're getting calls from New Hampshire and all the New England states.  There's also a lot of interest being shown locally in and around Ohio."

    The reason for the delay was due to not having a kit around to build.  Also, work had to be done on the hangar to make part of it a showroom for their completed plane.

    "We didn't want to go out on the market and somebody say, 'Yes, I want one' and didn't have anything to give them for six months,"Kennard said.  "Now, we do have a kit ready, and we'll be finishing the second demonstrator about the same time."  Once the second plane is finished, Kennard said they will be traveling to Osh Kosh, Wis., for what he describes as the biggest air show in the world.  While there, they will be giving demonstrations of their product.

    Work on the kits is continuing, as Kennard hopes the number of planes increase.

    "We're hoping to have three through the reminder of this year," he said.  "Next year, we're hoping to get at least five, and work our way up to 10."

    There are currently four people working on putting the planes together at the Minford site, and each plane usually takes over 600 hours of labor to finish.  Metal and aluminum is fabricated to provide the outline of the plane, with metal bars providing a skeleton to the plane.  They also install explosion-proof fuselages put into every plane.

    Kennard said the Waco stlye was chosen to focus on one design aspect.

    "This is the only thing we are going to build," he said.  "We wanted something we felt we could perfect and do the best job we could, and we said 'Let's just stick with the one.

    Most people who have seen the aircraft on display are intrigued by what they see, according to Kennard.

    "They can't beleive it when they walk in and seeit," he said.

    A labor of love, the business has brought joy to Kennard in his retirement.

    "This is something we loved, something we have liked, and we're enjoying it," Kennard said.  "We're having fun, that's really what we are doing."

For More Information:
The Waco Aircraft Company, Ohio Inc., is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located at 174 Barklow Road.  Further information is available by contacting Waco at 820-5100 or online at www.wacokit.com.