WWII-era training plane spent 50 years in boxes before finally being restored
A rare WWII-era WACO UPF-7 training aircraft has been restored to airworthy condition after spending 50 years in storage. The plane, which played a key role in training pilots for WWII and the Korean War, was rediscovered in a private collection in 2002.
Why it matters
This highlights the preservation of aviation history and the dedication of restoration experts to maintaining vintage military technology.
A World War II-era training aircraft that spent nearly five decades packed away in boxes after its retirement, moving with its private owner from one place to another, has now been restored to airworthy condition.The WACO UPF-7, serial number 5650, began its training role in 1941, Vintage Aviation News reported. It was purchased by Unger Aircraft Association through the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), a government-backed programme created to help train pilots before and during World War II. The aircraft later also helped train pilots connected with the Korean War era.In 1953, the WACO was retired and bought by a private owner in Florida. Instead of being scrapped, the aircraft was taken apart and packed into boxes.
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