WACO Aircraft Corporation Ceases Operations in Battle Creek After 25 Years

A Sudden Goodbye for a Battle Creek Institution

It started like any other Tuesday for the folks at WACO Aircraft Corporation in Battle Creek. Employees finished their shifts, headed home, and expected to be back at their workstations the next morning. But that evening, an unexpected email landed in their inboxes with stark instructions: do not report to work on Wednesday.

 

The following day, notices taped to the front doors of the company's facility at W.K. Kellogg Airport confirmed what no one wanted to believe. After more than 25 years of calling Battle Creek home, WACO Aircraft Corporation has ceased operations. The closure affects approximately 60 employees and marks the end of an era for aviation manufacturing in our community.

 

A Legacy That Spanned More Than a Century

The WACO name carries weight in aviation circles that few can match. The original company was founded in 1920, producing some of the most elegant aircraft designs ever to grace the skies. Those classic biplanes became symbols of a golden age in American aviation. After the original corporation closed its doors in 1947, the brand lay dormant for decades until WACO Classic Aircraft revived it in 1983.

 

The modern iteration kept the soul of those 1920s designs while adding modern avionics and safety features. Their flagship YMF-5 series biplanes turned heads at airshows across the country, including regular appearances at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and the SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo. In fact, WACO maintained an active presence at these events through early 2026, making this closure all the more surprising to the aviation community.

 

WACO relocated to Battle Creek's W.K. Kellogg Airport in 1999, becoming a fixture of our local business landscape. New ownership acquired the company in 2020 and had continued investing in the facility—making this sudden shutdown particularly unexpected.

 

What Happens Now?

 

According to aviation news outlet AVweb, additional information about the closure is expected to be released on Friday. In the meantime, some employees have been permitted to return to the facility to collect personal belongings. The full circumstances behind the shutdown remain unclear, leaving many in both the aviation industry and our local community searching for answers.

 

For Battle Creek, this represents more than the loss of a business. WACO was part of our identity—a connection to aviation history that brought prestige to our community. The closure leaves a void at W.K. Kellogg Airport and raises questions about what comes next for the facility and the skilled workers who called it home.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When did WACO Aircraft Corporation close?
A: Employees were notified via email on Tuesday evening, May 2026, not to report to work. Official notices were posted on the facility doors the following day.

 

Q: How many employees are affected by the WACO closure?
A: Approximately 60 employees worked at the Battle Creek facility.

 

Q: What types of aircraft did WACO manufacture?
A: WACO primarily produced the YMF-5 series biplanes—modernized versions of their iconic 1920s designs—as well as Great Lakes aircraft and a light sport aircraft inspired by the 1930s Junkers A50 monoplane.

 

We'll continue following this story as more information becomes available. If you or someone you know was affected by this closure, please reach out—we want to make sure our community stays informed and connected during this transition.