Photos and Commentary

Engine break-in period now a key element

Nov. 11 � The AOPA Sweepstakes Waco UPF-7 is 99 percent done. Wing fairings, small, curved shapes of metal that fit between the wing and the fuselage, have been sent back to a subcontractor for fitting adjustments. Rare Aircraft is still awaiting field approval for modifications to the aircraft's brakes. The next big step is flight testing and a break-in period for the Jacobs 275-horsepower engine. Since the Waco will be housed in Owatonna, Minnesota, for the winter (the location of Rare Aircraft), weather warm enough for proper break-in is difficult to find. Should a first flight occur, you will read about it here. But if colder temperatures prevail, it could be next spring before air temperatures are warm enough to conduct the required 10 to 20 hours of break-in flights.