Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing

The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is a remarkable American biplane, notable for its unique design featuring a negative wing stagger, where the lower wing is positioned further forward than the upper wing. This innovative aircraft first took to the skies in 1932, marking the beginning of its storied history. The development of the Staggerwing was spearheaded by Walter H. Beech, who, after leaving Curtiss-Wright—a company that had acquired Travel Air in 1929—established the Beech Aircraft Corporation in Wichita, Kansas. Beech brought with him Ted A. Wells, an airplane designer from Curtiss-Wright, and together they embarked on their first project: the creation of the Model 17. This biplane was crafted with the business executive in mind, offering speed and an enclosed cabin. The design was initially conceived by Wells during his time at Curtiss-Wright but was rejected by their board. The Staggerwing, as it came to be known, made its maiden flight on November 4, 1932, and quickly became a favored choice for executive travel, much like the private jets of today. Its main competitors were the Waco Custom Cabin and Waco Standard Cabin series.

The Model 17’s distinctive negative stagger wing configuration and unique shape were designed to maximize pilot visibility and reduce interference drag between the wings, although the latter was found to have negligible effect. The aircraft’s fabric-covered fuselage was meticulously crafted with wood formers and stringers over a welded steel tube frame, resulting in a complex construction process that required significant man-hours. The Staggerwing’s retractable conventional landing gear was uncommon for its time and, combined with its streamlined design, lightweight construction, and powerful radial engine, contributed to its impressive performance.

In the mid-1930s, Beech undertook a significant redesign of the aircraft, resulting in the Model D17 Staggerwing. This new model featured a lengthened fuselage, enhancing handling characteristics by increasing control leverage. The ailerons were relocated to the upper wings to eliminate interference with the flaps, and braking was improved with a foot-operated brake linked to the rudder pedals. However, between 1936 and 1940, the Model 17 experienced six fatal accidents involving midair breakups, attributed to weather conditions and structural failures caused by flutter of the ailerons and wings. This led to safety measures, including the addition of lead balance weights to the ailerons and flaps and plywood panels to the outboard portion of the wings to increase torsional stiffness.

Initially, sales of the Staggerwing were slow due to its high price tag, which ranged from $14,000 to $17,000 depending on the engine size, deterring potential buyers in the depressed civil aircraft market. Only 18 Model 17s were sold in 1933, the first year of production, but sales gradually increased. Each Staggerwing was custom-built by hand, featuring a luxurious cabin trimmed in leather and mohair, accommodating up to five passengers. Over time, the Staggerwing captured a significant share of the passenger aircraft market, with more than 424 units sold by the start of World War II.

The Staggerwing’s speed made it a popular choice among 1930s air racers. An early version of the Model 17 won the 1933 Texaco Trophy Race, and in 1935, British diplomat Capt. H.L. Farquhar completed a successful around-the-world flight in a Model B17R, covering 21,332 miles from New York to London via Siberia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes won the 1936 Bendix Trophy in a Model C17R Staggerwing, with Thaden also receiving the Harmon Trophy for her achievement. Jackie Cochran set a women’s speed record of 203.9 mph, established an altitude record of over 30,000 feet, and finished third in the 1937 Bendix Trophy Race, all in a special Model D17W Staggerwing. The aircraft continued to impress in the 1938 Bendix race.

In 1970, the Reno National Air Races invited five Staggerwings to perform a demonstration race due to a dispute with the T-6 racing class. Two G models and two D17 models participated, with pilots including Bryant Morris, Bert Jensen, Don Clark, Noel Gourselle, and Phil Livingston, the only pilot with prior racing experience in the T-6 class. The race was executed flawlessly and covered by ABC Wide World of Sports, but T-6 racers protested, citing safety concerns, which prevented the class from future competition.

As World War II approached, several Model B17Ls were utilized as bombers by the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish Civil War. China ordered Staggerwings for use as air ambulances in its conflict with Imperial Japan, and Finland operated one C17L as a liaison aircraft from 1940 to 1945. On October 2, 1941, Beech delivered a special camouflaged D17S to Prince Bernhard of Lippe, who used it for refugee work in and around London while in exile after the German invasion of the Netherlands.

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 for evaluation as light liaison aircraft, designated YC-43. After a brief flight test program, these aircraft served as liaison aircraft with air attachés in London, Paris, and Rome. During World War II, the need for a compact executive-type transport or courier aircraft became evident, leading to the United States Army Air Forces ordering 270 Model 17s for service as the UC-43. These aircraft differed only in minor details from the commercial model. Additional Staggerwings were purchased or leased from private owners, including 118 more for the Army Air Force and others for the United States Navy, where they were designated as GB-1 and GB-2. The British Royal Air Force and Royal Navy acquired 106 “Traveller Mk. I” aircraft through the Lend-Lease arrangement for light personnel transport.

After the war, Beech swiftly transitioned back to civil aircraft production, creating one final version of the Staggerwing, the Model G17S. Sixteen of these aircraft were built and sold for $29,000 each. Norway sold one D17S to Finland in 1949, which the Finnish Air Force operated from 1950 to 1958. The lightweight V-tail Beechcraft Bonanza soon replaced the Staggerwing in Beech’s product lineup. The Bonanza, a smaller aircraft with less horsepower, carried four people at a similar speed to the Staggerwing but at about a third of the price. Beechcraft sold the 785th and final Staggerwing in 1948, delivering it in 1949.

The Staggerwing has received critical acclaim over the years. In March 2003, Plane & Pilot magazine named it one of the Top Ten All-Time Favorite aircraft. In April 2007, AOPA Pilot magazine reported that the Staggerwing was voted the Most Beautiful Airplane by nearly 3,000 AOPA members, who praised its perfect balance between muscular strength and delicate grace, as well as its classic lines and symmetry. Aviation History magazine ranked the Staggerwing fifth in their November 2012 list of the World’s Most Beautiful Airplanes, highlighting its art deco classic design and distinctive features.