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Here is a series of three photos captioned "Waco Experimental Model aircraft Howard Allor" and dated April 1946.
"Howard Allor" may have been the designer, but he could also have been only the photographer. (1)
To anyone familiar with the experimental types of that period, the likeness of the model with the Douglas Model 1015 Cloudster will be obvious. To such an extent, in fact, that one is tempted to wonder whether it really is a Waco model or a Douglas one... (continue reading underneath the photos)
If you take a look at the Cloudster II, of course, you'll notice it has squared-off tail fins, just like the XB-42 Mixmaster or the projected "DC-8" pusher.
But if you consider earlier Douglas projects such as the DS-312A (the unbuilt XP-48), you'll see that the tail looks almost exactly the same as the Waco model. In fact, by grafting the rounded tail of the DS-312A to the Model 1015 (minus the second propeller/engine), we would get an aircraft that looks almost exactly the same as the "Waco"!
Can we assume, therefore, that this is just a case of a mislabeled set of photos?
Probably... Let's keep in mind, though, that Waco produced their own commercial pusher in 1947, the Model W Aristocraft (although it was an A. F. Archer design, extremely different from the model above).
Original (uncropped) photos of the model HERE.
1. I've located one Howard Allor in that period, who lived in St. Clair, Mich. and was 25 at that time, but wasn't able to establish his profession. Another Howard Allor is more likely the right individual, since he appears in a Flickr album entitled "Aviation Related People" (photo HERE).
"Howard Allor" may have been the designer, but he could also have been only the photographer. (1)
To anyone familiar with the experimental types of that period, the likeness of the model with the Douglas Model 1015 Cloudster will be obvious. To such an extent, in fact, that one is tempted to wonder whether it really is a Waco model or a Douglas one... (continue reading underneath the photos)
If you take a look at the Cloudster II, of course, you'll notice it has squared-off tail fins, just like the XB-42 Mixmaster or the projected "DC-8" pusher.
But if you consider earlier Douglas projects such as the DS-312A (the unbuilt XP-48), you'll see that the tail looks almost exactly the same as the Waco model. In fact, by grafting the rounded tail of the DS-312A to the Model 1015 (minus the second propeller/engine), we would get an aircraft that looks almost exactly the same as the "Waco"!
Can we assume, therefore, that this is just a case of a mislabeled set of photos?
Probably... Let's keep in mind, though, that Waco produced their own commercial pusher in 1947, the Model W Aristocraft (although it was an A. F. Archer design, extremely different from the model above).
Original (uncropped) photos of the model HERE.
1. I've located one Howard Allor in that period, who lived in St. Clair, Mich. and was 25 at that time, but wasn't able to establish his profession. Another Howard Allor is more likely the right individual, since he appears in a Flickr album entitled "Aviation Related People" (photo HERE).
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