Employees, customers, and even airport neighbors of WACO Aircraft Corp. were reeling on Wednesday after hearing reports that the company had ceased operation at its factory and offices at Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field (KBTL) in Michigan.
People familiar with the situation told The Aviation Consumer that employees left the company at the end of work Tuesday and received an email message around 7 p.m. EDT telling them not to return the next day. Reports suggest there was little or no indication of trouble within the company’s operations.
Surprise Notification
On Wednesday there was a sign on the door of the production facility that spelled out the situation.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we share some deeply difficult news regarding the future of WACO Aircraft Corporation, Centennial Aircraft Services, and Dimor Group Inc.,” it read. “After exhausting every possible path to keep our operations running, ownership has made the painful decision to cease the aircraft production and maintenance services operations U.S., effective immediately.”
There were exceptions, those familiar with the company said, noting that 15 or so employees were assigned to continue working to sell off inventory and complete other tasks related to the closure. Those wind-down operations are expected to last about 60 days.
Staffers at SF Latin Cuisine, a restaurant located on the second floor of the WACO building, noticed that this was not a normal day at the aircraft company.
“The parking lot was empty this morning except for a security car,” according to a restaurant employee who requested anonymity. “And you can see that the lights are out.”
The factory closure comes as a surprise to many across the general aviation community.
All Had Seemed Well
WACO Aircraft had a prominent exhibit at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, earlier this month. Based on announcements on the company website, the company had planned to participate in many events later this year, including the American WACO Club Fly-In in Troy, Ohio (June 17-21), the 67th National WACO Club Reunion in Mount Vernon, Ohio (June 25-28), and EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh 2026 in Wisconsin (July 20-26).
The American and National WACO Clubs had not responded to requests for comment as of Wednesday afternoon.
WACO manufactured a wide range of open-cockpit and cabin biplanes during the 1920s and ’30s, with the early ’30s YMF holding a special place in many pilots’ hearts because of its beautiful proportions and pleasant flight characteristics.
Nostalgia drove the airplane’s return to production in 1986, with modifications and updates to structure, avionics, and other systems to bring it into the modern age. Still, the airplane looks like it did in 1935, and that fact had a lot to do with its popularity.
The company also builds modernized Great Lakes biplanes.
In 2018 the German Dimor Group acquired WACO, with plans to expand and improve operations. In 2025, Dimor announced plans for a 45,000 square-foot expansion of the Battle Creek facility to house production of the Junkers A50, a 1930s-inspired, low-wing, light sport design.
People familiar with WACO’s operations said a formal announcement regarding the company’s status is expected on Thursday or Friday.