Page 38 - Volume 15 Number 3

of in 1932. In November, 1932, the Model 17 made its first flight with Pete Hill at the controls. A few days later, it was clocked at 201.2 miles per hour, and was showing cruise speeds of 170 miles per hour, leaving its nearest competitor, the cabin- class Waco, miles behind.Look at That Negative Stagger-Wing Beechcraft Go!Now that he had an airplane, Beech had to sell it. He sent the Model 17 to Miami in early 1933 for exhibition in the All American Air Maneuvers, where E.H. Wood flew it to a first-place finish in the Texaco Trophy event. Karl Voelter flew the Beech on several occasions, making high-speed passes past the crowds.It was during one of these runs that an announcer, despite the company literature referring to the airplane as the Model 17, or even a negative-stagger Beech, said as the plane thundered past, “Look at that negative stagger-wing Beechcraft go.” The name stuck, and the Model 17 has been the Staggerwing ever since.Of course, the unusual configuration is also one of the things that makes the Staggerwing so unique – and uniquely beautiful – among its peers. The upper wing sits almost 26 inches behind the lower one, a dimension that seems even more exaggerated when looking at the airplane as it sits on the ground. The design allowed for the ailerons to remain effective through a stall, and it gavepilots visibility unprecedented in cabin biplanes.The Speed of BusinessBeech’s Model 17 was a success, though not an instant one, with companies who sought fast, reliable, and comfortable executive transport. 1934 was a lean year for the fledgling airplane company, and welcome news came from Walter Beech’s old friend, Tom Loffland of the Loffland Brothers Company. Not only did Loffland’s interest provide a much-needed influx of cash that allowed Beech to meet the payroll, it gave Beech the opportunity to put their ship into real service.Chief pilot for Loffland, Eddie Ross, passed up no opportunity to show off the airplane; and considering he had a 200-plus mph airplane at his disposal, who could blame him! Already beaming from the first sale to Loffland, Walter, Olive Ann, and the rest of the Beech employees must have been over the moon when an order came in for a Wright Cyclone-powered model. At a time when weary OX-5 engines were just being replaced with Wright and Jacobs radials, the price tag of a Cyclone was nothing short of astronomical. Despite the cost, the Goodall Worsted Company placed an order for the powerful A17F. On delivery, the 690-horsepower Wright R-1820-F11 pushed the aerodynamic Beech to speeds of 250 mph, faster than any military aircraft of the day. As the A17Froared into service for the Sanford, Maine-based Goodall Worsted firm, a new standard in business aviation was set, and Walter Beech was the man at the front of the pack.Despite its remarkable perfor- mance, luxury, and features ahead of its time, the Model 17 proved difficult for Beech to sell. The narrow gear and big Wright radial meant ground handling was a challenge to the inexperienced. The price tag on the Staggerwing set it apart from its competition as well. At $19,000 and up, the Model 17’s price scared off would be buyers, many still reeling from the depression. Clearly, Beech would have to make some compromises in order to get his airplane to market. After selling only two airplanes since the first model rolled off the line, the B17L was introduced.The new Staggerwing lost weight by returning to a wood spar and shortening the wings, along with trading the big Wright engine with a milder and lighter, Jacobs model. Although Ted Wells didn’t expect much from the airplane compared to the 200-mph Model 17R, flight tests turned in a very respectable top speed of 175 mph. The changes had an immediate positive impact on sales. Beech advertised the high speed, superior visibility, and docile stall characteristics to fantastic results. Around 67 of the B model Staggerwings were sold with various engine configurations before the C model was introduced in 1936.The first production Beechcraft, Model 17R-1.Photo Courtesy of Robert Esposito3366•• ­TMARCH 2011TWWIINN&&TTUURRBBIINNEE