LRW-1

The LRW‑1 was a light‑sport aircraft produced by the Waco Aircraft Company during the early 1930s, a period when the firm was transitioning from its famous biplane trainers to more modern, streamlined monoplanes. Designed by chief engineer Leonard R. Wilkins, the LRW‑1 first flew on 12 March 1932 and entered limited production later that year. Its open‑cockpit, low‑wing configuration combined a welded steel tube fuselage with wooden ribs and a fabric covering, while the wings were built of spruce spars and attached with cantilever struts. Powered by a 90‑horsepower Warner Scarab radial engine, the aircraft achieved a cruising speed of 115 mph, a service ceiling of 13,000 feet, and a range of roughly 420 miles, making it suitable for both flight training and sport‑cross‑country trips. The LRW‑1’s modest price and straightforward maintenance attracted a number of flying clubs across the United States, helping to sustain general‑aviation activity during the Great Depression. Although only 28 units were built before Waco ceased production in 1934, the LRW‑1 is remembered as a bridge between the company’s classic biplane heritage and its later, more advanced designs, illustrating the evolution of American light aircraft in the interwar era.