Although we are a new business to the Space Coast, Florida Biplanes staff have a tremendous amount of experience in aviation!
All our pilots hold FAA Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Certificates. Some currently fly as Major Airline Pilots (if you call that flying!) and several are ex-military Fighter Pilots. With an average of over 10,000 hours of flight experience each, you are sure to feel safe and comfortable.
Our founder, Mark Grainger, began in aviation at the ripe old age of 13 working as a ground crew at a small grass strip airpark in Virginia. He has flown hang gliders, sailplanes, crop dusters, banner planes, commuters, charters, airliners, fighter jets, and almost everything in between.
Mark and his wife Cathy live in Cocoa Beach where they are raising two small future aviators, Kevin & Brian.
Pronounced "Wah..Co", an acronym for Weaver Aircraft Corporation, our plane was built in Troy Ohio and served as a trainer for the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) during WWII. Over 300 UPF-7's were built and less than 80 are still flying today.
She was delivered on November 16th, 1940 to Wiggins Airways in Massachusetts (which, incredibly is still in business today!!) She trained pilots almost daily throughout the war. In the winter-time she was even equipped with snow skis.
After the war ended, she traded owners a few times, living in Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, and California, where she was most recently restored. Although she never served in the US Navy, the father/son team who restored her were ex-Navy and decided to paint her that way.
She found one more owner and spent a few years in upper Michigan before she was "discovered" by Florida Biplanes and brought to her current home in Florida's Space Coast.
Specifications
Model: UPF-7
S/N: 5543
Registration: N30146
Length: 23' 1"
Wingspan: 30'
Crew: 1 Pilot & 2 Passengers
Engine: Jacobs R-755 B2 - 275HP
Prop: Hamilton Standard 2B20 Constant Speed
Empty Weight: 1870 lbs
Gross Weight: 2880 lbs
Max Airspeed: 215 mph
Cruise Airspeed: 125 mph
Stall Speed: 49 mph
Takeoff Distance: 325'
Landing Distance: 425'
