Beechcraft 17 Staggerwing
![]() Beechcraft D17S
The nickname Staggerwing was soon coined and shows no signs of going away after almost 65 years. The airframe broke no new structural grounds, having wooden wings and steel tube load-bearing fuselage with wooden formers to carry the aerodynamic shape, all but the forward fuselage covered in fabric. Cessna let his old partner use part of the Cessna plant, temporarily closed by the Depression, to begin building Beechcrafts. Careful attention to streamlining achieved Walter Beech’s specifications of 200 mph top speed while landing at 60 mph, a speed range unknown in 1932, on the 420 hp of a Wright R-975 Whirlwind. On 4 November 1932, six months after the factory opened, test pilot W H "Pete" Hill flew the number‑one Model 17R, NC499N, at a top speed clocked at 201.2 mph.
![]() Beech 17R NC499N
NC499N was destroyed in a crash on 10 December 1936. In its first two years, the Beech Aircraft Company sold just one airplane, NC58Y. The customer was a Tulsa oil‑drilling outfit, whose pilot perhaps gave a clue as to why sales were so slow. For his first hundred hours in the airplane, he reported laconically, he had very little idea where it was going during takeoff or landing. It was returned to Beech Co as a trade in mid-1935 and reportedly dismantled. The airplane would have to be improved. As a first step‑just to see what would happen, he advertised the plane, which already had 420 hp, as available also with the 700‑hp Wright Cyclone engine. What happened was an order for one such model from a worsted mill in Maine. Beech built the airplane, but just running up the engine shook the airframe so badly that it continually broke weld joints. In the air it was smoother, and could hit 250 mph, which was faster than any fighter of the time. The pilot who flew it for the customer was given one hundred days to live by his friends, but he confounded them by flying it safely for a year. Thereafter it was sold to Howard Hughes, in whose service it was cracked up on takeoff in the 1937 Bendix Race.
The preproduction model, the A17F with fixed undercarriage, was fitted with a 690-hp Wright Cyclone, but although the basic design would appear to give stable flight characteristics, the horsepower was excessive, resulting in “porpoising” due to the short fuselage. There were four fixed-gear 17s built - the two 17Rs, an A17F and an A17FS. All stood on tall, stiff, narrow gear and had short-coupled fuselages. It was a beautiful airplane in the air but it was very touchy taking off and landing If you were just a second off your timing on the use of the rudder, you were in trouble.
When in 1939 the US Army Air Corps needed a small communications aircraft, the excellent performance of the Model 17 resulted in the procurement of three Model D17s for evaluation under the designation YC-43. However, it was not until expansion of the USAAF began during 1941-2 that an initial production order for 27 was received, this leading to a total procurement of 207 Beech 17s under the designation UC-43, these being powered by the 336kW Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 engine. After the United States became involved in World War II, an additional 118 civil Model 17s were impressed for military service, and comprising D17R, D17S, F17D, E17B, C17R, D17A, C17B, B17R, C17L, and D17W variants under the respective designations of UC-43A, UC-43B, UC-43C, UC-43D, UC-43E, UC-43F, UC-43G, UC-43H, UC-43J and UC-43K.
![]() Beech 17R assembly line
The E17, built from 1937 to 1944, and the F17, built for the military from 1938 to 1944, were cheaper versions powered by Jacobs with strut-braced tailplane. A 1940 price list shows that an E17B went for $12,380, while the higher -powered D17S listed at $18,870.
![]() Beech G17 NC21934
In all, a total of 781 Staggerwings were built, of which 353 were commercial and 105 to USAF and 320 to USN, excluding 20 built in Japan as C17E.
Beech 17
Wingspan: 32ft 10in
Wing area: 273 sq.ft.
Empty wt: 1600 lb
Normal useful load: 1130 lb.
Normal MAUW: 2730 lb
Max speed: 175 mph.
Cruise: 152 mph
Landing speed: 45 mph.
Climb with full load: 1100 fpm
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft.
Power loading: 14 lb/hp.
17R / 17A
1932 ATC 496
Engine: Wright R-975 Whirlwind, 420 hp.
Wing span: 34'4"
Length: 24'2"
Useful load: 1800 lb
Max speed: 201 mph
Cruise speed: 180 mph
Stall speed: 60 mph
ROC: 1,600 fpm
Ceiling: 21,500 ft.
Range: 960 mi
First flight: 4 Nov 32
Price: $19,000
A17F / A17J
1934 (ATC 548)
Engine: Wright R-1820-F11 Cyclone, 690 hp.
Wingspan: 34'6"
Length: 24'2"
Max speed: 240 mph
Cruise speed: 212 mph
Stall speed: 65 mph
Useful load: 1915 lb
Range: 780 mi
Ceiling: 18,500'
U/C: fixed.
Price $24,500
No. built: 1 NX/NC/NR12583
purchased by Howard Hughes
![]() Beech A17F NC12583
A17FS
1935 (ATC 577)
Engine: Wright SR-1820-F3 Cyclone, 710 hp.
Wingspan: 34'6"
Length: 24'3"
Max speed: 235 mph
Cruise speed: 215 mph
Stall speed: 65 mph
Range: 750 mi
Ceiling: 20,000'
U/C: fixed.
Price: $30,000
No built: 1 registered by Beech NR12569
transferred to the Bureau of Commerce as NS68
Dismantled c.1937
![]() Beech A17FS NS68
B17B / SB17B 1934 (ATC 560)
Engine: Jacobs R-830-1 (L-5), 285-hp
Wingspan: 32 ft
Length: 24'6"
Useful load: 1300 lb
Max speed: 185 mph
Cruise speed: 173 mph
Stall speed: 45 mph
Range: 500 mi
Ceiling: 18,000'
U/C: retractable.
Price: $9,000
No built: 2 NC14408, CZ116
CZ116 converted to B17L
SB17B was the twin-float designation
B17E
1935 (ATC 566)
Engine: Wright R-760-E1 Whirlwind, 285-hp
Wingspan: 32 ft
Length: 24'5"
Useful load: 1263 lb
Max speed: 185 mph
Cruise speed: 165 mph
Stall speed: 50 mph
Range: 680 mi
Ceiling: 18,000'
U/C: retractable.
Price: $12,980
No built: 4, NC12593, NC14413, NC14458, NC15412
NC14413 converted to B17R
B17L / SB17L
1934 (ATC 560)
Engine: Jacobs R-755 L-4, 225-hp.
Wingspan: 32 ft.
Useful load: 1350 lb
Max speed: 166 mph / 282 kph
Cruise: 130 kt / 150 mph.
Stall speed: 39 kt / 45 mph / 72 kph
Range: 560 mi
Ceiling: 15,500'
U/C: retractable.
Price: $8,000-8,550
No built: 45
the first Staggerwing on floats, SB17L
![]() Beech SB17L NC15402
B17R / UC-43H
1935 (ATC 579)
Engine: Wright R-975-E3 Whirlwind, 420-hp.
Wingspan: 32 ft.
Useful load: 1362 lb
Max speed: 211 mph
Cruise speed: 202 mph
Stall speed: 55 mph
Range: 760 mi
Ceiling: 22,000'
U/C: retractable.
Price: $14,500
No built: 16
3 to USAAF as C-43H
1 converted from B17E, NC14413
![]() Beech B17R NC15815
C17B / SC17B / UC-43G
1936 (ATC 602)
Engine: Jacobs L-5, 285 hp
Wing span: 32'0"
Length: 24'5"
Max speed: 185 mph
Cruise speed: 165 mph
Stall speed: 45 mph
Range: 480-680 mi
Price: $9,250
No built: 39, including conversions to C17L, of which 10 to USAAF as UC-43G
1 built as experimental amphibian NC16440
SC17B was twin-float version
![]() Beech C17B NC47024
![]() Beech SC17B NC17078
C17E
1936 (ATC 615)
Engine: Wright R-760-E1, 285 hp
Useful load: 1550 lb
Max speed: 185 mph
Cruise speed: 165 mph
Stall speed: 48 mph
Range: 865 mi
Seats: 4
No built: 3, NC15487 plus 2 exported to Japan in 1937, incl. NC15836/J-BAOI
Japanese construction under license of 20 C17Es from 1938-40
![]() Beech C17E Japanese assembly
C17L / UC-43J 1936 (ATC 602)
Engine: Jacobs L-4, 225hp
Wing span 32ft
MAUW 3165lbs
Useful load: 1340 lb
Max speed: 175mph.
Cruise speed: 166 mph
Stall speed: 45 mph
Range: 560 mi
Price: $8,550
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
No built: 5, of which 3 to USAAF as UC-43J, 1 converted to C17B, NC16441
![]() Beech C17L NC15846
C17R / UC-43E / JB-1
1936 (ATC 604)
Engine: Wright R-975-E2, 420 hp
Wingspan: 32'0"
Length: 24'5"
Useful load: 1650 lb
Max speed: 211 mph
Cruise speed: 185 mph
Stall speed: 59 mph
Range: 800 mi
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
Price: $14,500
No built: 17 of which 1 to USN as JB-1, and five to USAAF as UC-43E
Winner of 1936 Bendix Trophy [NC15835] (p: Louise Thaden & Blanche Noyes)
SC17R with Edo ponyoons.
![]() Beech C17R N15835
D17A / UC-43F
1939 (ATC 713)
Engine: Wright R-975-3, 350 hp
Wingspan: 32'0"
Length: 26'11"
Useful load: 1733 lb
Max speed: 180 mph
Cruise speed: 170 mph
Stall speed: 50 mph
Range: 850 mi
Price: $16,350
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
No built: 8, of which 1 to USAAF as UC-43F
First of the lengthened fuselage models (D-17 through E-17)
![]() Beech D17A NC582
D17R / UC-43A
1937 (ATC 638)
Engine: Wright, 420 hp
Wingspan: 32'0"
Length: 26'11"
Useful load: 1680 lb
Max speed: 211 mph
Cruise speed: 202 mph
Stall speed: 60 mph
Range: 825 mi
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
Price: $18,870
No built: 28, of which 13 to USAAF as UC-43A, plus 2 conversions from D17W - NC17081, NR18562
D17S / UC-43B / SD17S / GB-1
1937 (ATC 649)
Engine: Pratt &Whitney R 985-AN-1 Wasp Junior, 424 hp
Span: 32ft (9.75m)
Wing area: 296.01 sq.ft / 27.5 sq.m
Wing load: 15.79 lb/sq.ft / 77.0 kg/sq.m
Length: 25ft 9in (7.85m)
Height: 10.236 ft / 3.12 m
Max take off weight: 4681.2 lb / 2123.0 kg
Weight empty: 3084.8 lb / 1399.0 kg
Max speed: 212mph (341kmh)
Cruising speed 65%: 148 kt / 274 km/h / 202 mph
Vne: 256mph.
Stall: 61 mph.
Service ceiling: 19997 ft / 6095 m
Range: 840 miles (1350 km)
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
Price: $18,870
No built: about 50, of which 13 to USAAF as UC-43/UC-43B, 11 to USN as GB-1
SD17S was floatplane
The last D17S NC34R became prototype for G17S
![]() Beech SD17S NC18562
D17W / UC-43K / GB-1
1937
Engine: supercharged P&W R-985-SC-G Wasp, 525-600 hp
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
No built: 2
1 for Jacqueline Cochran to set speed and altitude records in 1937-38 - NX/NR18562
1 for Frank Hawks, NC17081, later repowered with 420hp Wright R-975
Both converted to D17R, the NX/NR18562 serving in USAAF as UC-43K, NC17081 serving in USN as GB-1
![]() Beech D17W NC18562
E17B / UC-43D / SE17B
1937 (ATC 641)
Engine: JacobsL-5, 285 hp
Wingspan: 32'0"
Length: 25'11"
Useful load: 1270 lb
Max speed: 188 mph
Cruise speed: 177 mph
Stall speed: 50 mph
Range: 700 mi
Seats: 4-5
U/C: retractable
Price 1937: $10,490
Price 1939: $12,380
No built: about 52, of which 31 to USAAF as UC-43D
E17L
1937 (ATC 641)
Engine: Jacobs L-4, 225 hp
Useful load: 1335 lb
Max speed: 175 mph
Cruise speed: 166 mph
Stall speed: 50 mph
Seats: 4
U/C: retractable
No built: about 3 - CF-BHA, NC17071, NC18785
Similar to E17B
![]() Beech E17L N41663
F17D / UC-43C
1938 (ATC 689)
Engine make/model: 915-cu Jacobs L6MB, 330 hp
Wingspan: 32 ft Length: 25 ft 11.5 in.
Height: 8 ft
Wing area: 296.5 sq. ft Max gross weight: 3550–3590lb
Empty weight, std: 2155lb
Fuel capacity: 125 USgals Wing loading: 10.75 lbs./hp
Seating capacity: 6 Cruise speed: 182 kts Max speed: 195 mph Cruise speed: 18 mph Stall speed: 50 mph
Range: 600 sm
Rate of climb: 1300 fpm Service ceiling: 18,000 ft
U/C: retractable
Upper-wing ailerons, lower-wing flaps
Price: $13,980
No built: about 60, of which 38 to USAAF as UC-43C
![]() Beech F17D NC50256
G-17S
1946 (ATC 779)
Engine: 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-4 Wasp Junior, 336kW / 450 hp
Max Take-off weight: 1928 kg / 4251 lb
Empty weight: 1270 kg / 2800 lb
Useful load: 1,450 lbs.
Wingspan: 9.75 m / 32 ft 0 in
Length: 8.15 m / 26 ft 9 in
Height: 2.44 m / 8 ft 0 in
Wing area: 27.65 sq.m / 297.62 sq ft
Max. speed: 341 km/h / 212 mph
Max cruise (65% @ 9,700ft.): 175 kts.
Cruise speed: 298 km/h / 185 mph
Normal cruise (53% @ 9,500 ft.): 161 kts.
Stall: 60 mph
Fuel consumption @ normal cruise: 22 USG/hr.
Range @ normal cruise, no res: 1,242 nm.
Seats: 4-5
Fuel capacity: 170 USgals
Initial climb rate: 1,500 fpm
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Takeoff distance, 50 ft.: 1,130 ft
Landing distance, 50 ft.: 980 ft
Baggage capacity: 125 lbs.
Endurance: 7 hour
Range: 1300 sm
Price: $29,000
U/C: retractable
No built: 17 to 20
Post-war model, and last of the "Staggerwings," the final one built in 1949 - NC80321
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