09/25/2026
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum is incredibly honored to announce the donation of a rare 1936 Waco YQC-6 Custom Cabin Biplane restoration project!
Our first and greatest thank-you goes to John Schaefer, whose extraordinary generosity has entrusted this historic aircraft—and the story behind it—to our museum.
John’s aviation journey began in 1957 when his parents gave him $50 to join the flying club at Purdue University. He earned his pilot’s license, followed by his A&P certificate and Inspection Authorization. While working on a DC-3 restoration at Purdue Aeronautics Corporation, John gained valuable experience with airframe structures and radial engines—and a lifelong passion took root.
John went on to build an accomplished career in aerospace engineering, earning three U.S. patents, including one incorporated into an engine still flying in commercial service. He also owned, maintained, and flew an AT-6D after discovering the Waco that would become his lifetime restoration project.
For 57 years, John carefully researched and worked toward rebuilding this remarkable aircraft, complete with a new, old stock fuselage—locating Smithsonian drawings, attending Waco fly-ins, creating fabrication patterns from the remains of two-and-a-half Cabin Wacos, and completing wings with new wood. The project became both a labor of love and a welcome source of peace throughout his many years of domestic and international travel as an engineer.
We are deeply grateful that John has chosen Wings & Wheels to carry his lifetime endeavor forward. Our shared goal is to complete the restoration, return this rare Waco to the skies, and preserve its story for generations to come.
A very special thank-you also goes to Steve Thomas, who arranged this donation and made it possible. We are equally grateful to Steve Dietz, who will spearhead the aircraft’s restoration and lead the next chapter of its remarkable journey.
Completing this restoration will be a true team effort. A dedicated group of volunteers will work together, contributing their time, knowledge, and skills to help bring this historic aircraft back to life. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Waco restoration project, please contact us at [email protected].
This is a truly game-changing addition to our museum and one of the most significant projects we have ever undertaken. We cannot wait to share its progress with you—from the workshop to the runway!
Please join us in thanking John, Steve, and Steve for making this extraordinary new chapter possible!
