The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is an American biplane with an atypical negative wing stagger (the lower wing is farther forward than the upper wing). It first flew in 1932, and was sold on the civilian market, being used for transport and air racing. During World War II, it was used by allied forces, and after the war continued in civilian production until 1949, with 785 having been produced.
Development
In 1932, Walter H. Beech, formerly head of the aircraft manufacturer Travel Air, left Curtiss-Wright, which had purchased Travel Air in 1929, to set up a new company, Beech Aircraft Corporation, based in Wichita, Kansas. Beech took the airplane designer Ted A. Wells from Curtiss-Wright, and the first project of the new company was the Model 17, a fast biplane with an enclosed cabin designed to meet the needs of business executives. It was based on a design drafted by Wells while at Curtiss-Wright, but rejected by the Curtiss-Wright board.The Beechcraft Model 17, popularly known as the "Staggerwing", was first flown on November 4, 1932. During its heyday, it was used as an executive aircraft, much as the private jet is now, and its primary competition were the Waco Custom Cabin and Waco Standard Cabin series of biplanes.

The Model 17's unusual negative stagger wing configuration (the upper wing staggered behind the lower) and unique shape maximized pilot visibility and was intended to reduce interference drag between the wings (although it was later found to have negligible effect). The fabric-covered fuselage was faired with wood formers and stringers over a welded, steel tube frame. Construction was complex and took many man-hours to complete. The Staggerwing's retractable conventional landing gear, uncommon at that time, combined with careful streamlining, light weight, and a powerful radial engine, helped it perform well.

In the mid-1930s, Beech undertook a major redesign of the aircraft, to create the Model D17 Staggerwing. The D17 featured a lengthened fuselage that improved the aircraft's handling characteristics by increasing control leverage, and the ailerons were relocated to the upper wings, eliminating interference with the flaps. Braking was improved with a foot-operated brake linked to the rudder pedals.

Between April 1936 through May 1940 there were six Model 17 fatal accidents involving midair breakups that were attributed to weather conditions and structural failures, later determined to be caused by flutter of the ailerons and wings. The CAA Bureau of Safety Regulation initially issued an edict to restrict maximum airspeed and instrument flight, which was later replaced by a safety bulletin requiring lead balance weights to be added to the ailerons and flaps, and plywood panels to the outboard portion of the wings to increase torsional stiffness of the wing tip section.
Operational history
Sales began slowly. The first Staggerwings' high price tag (between US$14,000 and $17,000, depending on engine size) scared off potential buyers in an already depressed civil aircraft market. Only 18 Model 17s were sold during 1933, the first year of production, but sales steadily increased. Each Staggerwing was custom-built by hand. The luxurious cabin, trimmed in leather and mohair, held up to five passengers. Eventually, the Staggerwing captured a substantial share of the passenger aircraft market. By the start of World War II, Beechcraft had sold more than 424 Model 17s.
Air racing
The Staggerwing's speed made it popular with 1930s air racers. An early version of the Model 17 won the 1933 Texaco Trophy Race. In 1935, a British diplomat, Capt. H.L. Farquhar, successfully flew around the world in a Model B17R, traveling 21,332 miles (34,331 kilometers) from New York to London, by way of Siberia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and back across Europe.

Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes won the 1936 Bendix trophy in a Model C17R Staggerwing. Thaden also won the Harmon Trophy for her achievement. Jackie Cochran set a women's speed record of 203.9 mph (328 km/h), established an altitude record of over 30,000 feet (9,144 m), and finished third in the 1937 Bendix Trophy Race, all in a special Model D17W Staggerwing. The aircraft made an impressive showing in the 1938 Bendix race, as well.

In 1970, due to a dispute with the T-6 racing class, the Reno National Air Races invited five Staggerwings to perform a demonstration race. Two G models and two D17 models raced. The five pilots were Bryant Morris, Bert Jensen, Don Clark, Noel Gourselle, and Phil Livingston, the only pilot to have prior racing experience in the T-6 class. The race was flawless, with ABC Wide World of Sports coverage, but protesting T-6 racers prevented the class from future competition with allegations of safety issues.
World War II
As World War II loomed, a number of Model B17Ls were pressed into service as bombers by the Spanish Republican Air Force, the air forces of the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. China ordered a number of Staggerwings to use as air ambulances in its fight against Imperial Japan. Finland had one C17L as a liaison aircraft between 1940 and 1945. On October 2, 1941, Beech shipped a special camouflaged D17S to Prince Bernhard of Lippe, who was in exile in London after the German invasion of the Netherlands. He used it for refugee work in and around London.

The Beech UC-43 Traveler was a slightly modified version of the Staggerwing. In late 1938, the United States Army Air Corps purchased three Model D17Ss to evaluate them for use as light liaison aircraft. These were designated YC-43 (Y designating a development aircraft or non-standard type, C standing for Cargo). After a short flight test program, the YC-43s went to Europe to serve as liaison aircraft with the air attachés in London, Paris, and Rome.

Early in World War II, the need for a compact executive-type transport or courier aircraft became apparent, and in 1942, the United States Army Air Forces ordered the first of 270 Model 17s for service within the United States and overseas as the UC-43 (USAAF designation for Utility, Cargo). These differed only in minor details from the commercial model. To meet urgent wartime needs, the government also purchased or leased (impressed) additional "Staggerwings" from private owners, including 118 more for the Army Air Force plus others for the United States Navy. In Navy service, the airplanes were designated as GB-1 and GB-2 (under USN designating convention signifying General (purpose), Beech, 1st or 2nd variant of type). The British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy acquired 106 "Traveller Mk. I" (the British name uses the UK double "l" spelling) through the Lend-Lease arrangement to fill its own critical need for light personnel transports.

The production UC-43 differed in minor details from the service test YC-43. Two distinguishing external features of the UC-43 are the circular automatic direction finder antennae mounted between the main landing gear and landing lights near the lower wingtips. They were all powered by the 450 horsepower (336 kilowatt) Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine.
Postwar
After the war's end, Beech immediately converted its manufacturing capabilities back to civil aircraft production, making one final version of the Staggerwing, the Model G17S. They built 16 aircraft, which they sold for US$29,000 apiece. Norway sold one D17S to Finland in 1949, which the Finnish Air Force used from 1950 to 1958.

The lightweight V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza, a powerful four-passenger luxury aircraft, soon replaced the venerable Staggerwing in the Beech product line, at about a third of the price. The Bonanza was a smaller aircraft with less horsepower, but carried four people at a similar speed to the Staggerwing. Beechcraft sold the 785th and final Staggerwing in 1948 and delivered it in 1949.
Variants
17
Fixed gear prototypes, manufactured from 1932 to 1933.

17R
Prototypes, powered by 420 hp (310 kW) Wright R-975-E2 engine. Made first flight on November 4, 1932. Two built.






17J
Proposed single-seat military development of the Model 17 powered by a 715 hp (533 kW) Wright Cyclone engine. The cockpit was moved aft of the upper wing, which was to be in an inverted gull configuration to improve visibility. Not built.[10]

A17
Fixed gear, plans for production abandoned in 1935.

A17F
Powered by 690 hp (510 kW) Wright R-1820-F11 engine. One built.





A17FS
Powered by 710 hp (530 kW) Wright SR-1820-F3 engine. One built.

B17
Retractable gear, first production model, manufactured from March 1934 to March 1936.

B17B
285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-5 engine. One built 1934.
B17E
285 hp (213 kW) Wright R-760-E1 engine. Four built from 1935.
B17L
225 hp (168 kW) Jacobs L-4 engine. 48 built.










SB17L
B17L fitted with floats. One built.
B17R
425 hp (317 kW) Wright R-975-E2/E3 engine. 16 built from 1935.
C17
Manufactured from March 1936 to March 1937.

C17B
285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-5 engine. 40 built.
SC17B
Floatplane version of C17B - One built.
C17E
285 hp (213 kW) Wright R-760-E1.
C17L
225 hp (168 kW) Jacobs L-4 engine. Six built.
C17R
420 hp (310 kW) Wright R-975-E2/E3 engine. 16 built.


SC17R
Floatplane C17R. One built.


D17
Manufactured from March 1937 to 1945 (All were military models after 1941).

D17A
350 hp (260 kW) Wright R-760-E2. 10 built.
D17R
420 hp (310 kW) Wright R-975-E3 engine. 27 built.

D17S
450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-SB Wasp Junior. 23 built.

SD17S
Floatplane version of D17S.
D17W
600 hp (450 kW) geared and supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-985-SC-G Wasp Junior. Two built.
E17
Manufactured from March 1937 to 1941.

E17B
Powered by 285 hp (213 kW) Jacobs L-MB engine. 50 built.
SE17B
Amphibian version of E17B. Four built.
E17L
Powered by 225 hp (168 kW) Jacobs L-4 engine. One built.
F17
Manufactured from April 1938 to 1941.

F17D
Powered by 330 hp (250 kW) Jacobs L-6 engine. 61 built.
SF17D
One built.

G17
Manufactured from 1946 to 1948.

G17S
Powered by 450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN4 engine. 20 built
Tachikawa-Beechcraft C17E Light Transport
20 built in licence production in Japan by Tachikawa, plus two assembled from imported parts for Dai Nihon Koku KK. Manshu, Chuka Koku and agencies such as provincial police headquarters.

Below military









Specifications (Beech Model D17S)
General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: three or four passengers plus 125 lb (56.7 kg) baggage
Length: 26 ft 10 in (8.18 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m)
Height: 8 ft (2.4 m)
Wing area: 296.5 sq ft (27.55 m2)
Empty weight: 2,540 lb (1,152 kg)
Gross weight: 4,250 lb (1,928 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 "Wasp Junior" radial engine, 450 hp (340 kW) at 2,300 rpm
Performance
Maximum speed: 212 mph (341 km/h, 184 kn)
Cruise speed: 202 mph (325 km/h, 176 kn)
Range: 670 mi (1,078 km, 582 nmi)
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
Wing loading: 14.3 lb/sq ft (70 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 9.44 lb/hp (5.68 kg/kW)
(Text from Wikki)