CAP Timeline Flight: Waco YKS-6

With the approach of Civil Air Patrol's 80th anniversary Dec.1, Maj. Ronald C. Finger of the Minnesota Wing's Crow Wing Composite Squadron worked with Col. Frank Blazich of the Col. Louisa S. Morse Center for Civil Air Patrol History on a special project -- to create “Timeline Flight” paintings showcasing some of the wide variety of CAP aircraft flown over the years.

The 21 aircraft selected span the Coastal Patrol days of World War II, the postwar years and finally the aircraft Civil Air Patrol aircrews fly today. This is the fourth. Others will be posted every four days.

Waco YKS-6 NC16598

• Capacity: 4-5
• Length: 25 feet, 3 inches
• Maximum speed: 145 mph
• Cruise speed: 127 mph
• Range: 518 miles
• Service ceiling: 13,000 feet

The Waco S series is a range of single-engine, four- to five-seat, fabric-covered cabin biplanes produced by the Waco Aircraft Co. beginning in 1935. A 225-horsepower Jacobs L-4 engine powered the 1936 YKS-6, used as light passenger and utility transports, navigational trainers and maritime patrol craft. Civil Air Patrol used the YKS variants to conduct anti-submarine patrols off the U.S. coastline from March 1942-August 1943 armed with 100-pound demolition bombs.

NC16598 operated out of CAP Coastal Patrol Base No. 9 in Grande Isle, Louisiana.

Sikorsky S-39B
Stinson 105-10A Voyager
Beechcraft Staggerwing B-17L