Beech Staggerwing D-17
by David Barth, October 20, 2008. From Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia.
Beech Aircraft designed and built the Staggerwing in 1932. Unlike most biplanes, this plane's lower wing
was forward of the top wing, resulting in the nickname for this plane.
At the height of the Great Depression, aircraft executive Walter H. Beech and airplane designer T. A. "Ted" Wells joined
forces to collaborate on a project many considered foolhardy - a large, powerful, and fast biplane built specifically
for the business executive. The Beechcraft Model 17, popularly known as the "Staggerwing" was first flown on November
4, 1932, setting the standard for private passenger airplanes for many years to come. It was considered, during its
time, to be the premier executive aircraft flying, much as the Gulfstream executive jets are considered in contemporary
times.
Fixed gear prototype made first flight on November 4, 1932.
By 1934, Beechcraft had designed and built four models:
- 17R (420 hp Wright engine)
- A17F (690 hp Wright engine)
- A17FS (710 hp Wright engine)
- B17L (225 hp Jacobs engine)
All were fixed gear models
with the exception of the B17L, which had a pneumatically retractable undercarriage. Of the three models, the B17L
proved best suited to meet the market demands, and became the first production model.
B17
First production model, manufactured from March 1934 to March 1936.
C17
Manufactured from March 1936 to March 1937.
D17
Manufactured from March 1937 to 1945 (All were military models after 1941).
E17
Manufactured from March 1937 to 1941.
F17
Manufactured from April 1938 to 1941.
G17
Manufactured from 1946 to 1948.
Military designations
YC-43
Three Model D17S with a 450hp R-985-17 engine for evaluation by the United States Army Air Corps
UC-43 Traveler
Production version with a 450hp R-985-AN-1 engine, 75 ordered for the USAAC and 63 for the United States Navy as the
GB-1, 132 were later transferred from the USN to the USAAC.
UC-43A
Model D17R with 440hp R-975-11 engine, 13 impressed into service.
UC-43B
Model D17S with 450hp R-985-17 engine, 13 impressed into service.
UC-43C
Model F17D with 300hp R-915-1 engine, 37 impressed into service.
UC-43D
Model E17B with 285hp R-830-1 engine, 31 impressed into service.
UC-43E
Model C17R with 440hp R-975-11 engine, five impressed into service.
UC-43F
Model D17A with 350hp R-975-3 engine, one impressed into service.
UC-43G
Model C17B with 285hp R-830-1 engine, 10 impressed into service.
UC-43H
Model B17R with 440hp R-975-11 engine, three impressed into service.
UC-43J
Model C17L with 225hp R-755-1 engine, three impressed into service.
UC-43K
Model D17W, one impressed into service. This aircraft was originally built in 1937 for famed aviatrix Jacqueline
Cochran. Cochran flew the plane in the 1937 Bendix cross-country race and placed first in the Women's Division and
3rd overall. She also set a Women's National Speed Record of 203.895 miles per hour using the plane.
GB-1
United States Navy transport version of the D17, ten bought in 1939 and ten impressed into USN service.
GB-2
USN version as GB-1 but with a 450hp R-985-50 or R-985-AN-1 engine, 271 built, 132 later transferred to USAAF as
UC-43s. Also additional aircraft from a cancelled British contract and impressed aircraft.
JB-1
One Model C17R as an executive transport for the United States Navy.
Traveller I
British designation for the former US Embassy in London's YC-43 and 107 UC-43 and GB-2 aircraft delivered mainly for
the Royal Navy.
