Multiple aviation outlets reported this morning that the WACO Aircraft Corporation, based in Battle Creek, Michigan, has ceased operations. The development appears to have come as a surprise to both the broader aviation community and the company’s approximately 60 employees. According to GA aviation news website AVBrief, employees left work as usual on Tuesday but later received an email instructing them not to report on Wednesday. A notice posted on the front doors of the company’s facility the following day confirmed the closure. Additional information is expected to be released on Friday, and in the meantime, some employees will be permitted to return to collect personal belongings.
(Image credit: AvBrief)
WACO has long been associated with some of the most elegant aircraft designs ever produced. The original company was established in 1920, relocating to Troy, Ohio in 1923, and formally incorporating as the WACO Aircraft Corporation in 1929. That entity remained in operation until 1947.
The brand was revived in 1983 with the formation of WACO Classic Aircraft, which produced modernized versions of the company’s iconic 1920s-era biplanes. These aircraft retained their classic appearance while incorporating updated avionics and improved safety features. The company’s primary offerings included the WACO YMF-5 series, along with aircraft based on the Great Lakes design. More recently, WACO introduced a light sport aircraft inspired by the German-designed Junkers A50 monoplane of the 1930s.
(Image credit: Nigel Hitchamn)
WACO relocated its operations to W.K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1999. In 2020, the company was acquired by new ownership, which continued to invest in the facility and its operations. Until very recently, WACO maintained an active presence within the aviation community, exhibiting at major events such as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and the SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo, including participation in the 2026 event just weeks ago.
(Image credit: Waco Historical Society)
