Beech Staggerwing

The Beechcraft Model 17, popularly known as the 'Staggerwing', was first flown on November 4, 1932. It was the peak of the Great Depression and the first aircraft produced by the new Beech Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas. Beechcraft developed the Staggerwing for the business executive market. Its primary competition then was the Waco Custom and Standard Cabin series of biplanes. It was a gamble that paid off for president Walter Beech and vice-president Ted Wells, the aircraft's chief designer.

Beechcraft produced 785 Staggerwing 17s in total. The aircraft was technologically advanced for its time, and the negative staggered wing arrangement (the upper wing staggered behind the lower) improved the pilot's visibility from the aircraft. Also uncommon at the time was the Staggerwing's retractable landing gear. The latter characteristics, combined with careful streamlining, a powerful radial engine and its light weight, helped it perform well.

Not only was the Staggerwing a successful corporate aircraft, but it was also a winner in racing circles. The 1936 Bendix Trophy Race-winning Beech C 17R 'Staggerwing' was piloted by two women, Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes. Olive Ann Beech, a co-founder of Beech Aircraft, eager to increase sales of the Staggerwing and gain more traction, wanted a female pilot to compete with the best pilots in the world. Walter Beech, the CEO and husband of Olive Ann, instructed the women to "open this damn thing up! "and fly the aircraft at maximum power. However, concerned about engine reliability, Thaden ignored the advice and comfortably won the race using just 65% power. It was unusual for a male-dominated Transcontinental Air Race to have female pilots, but in 1936, of eight competing aircraft, three were flown by women. Laura Inglis would place second, and Amelia Earhart in fifth place.

Australia's own Transcontinental Air Race for women was inaugurated in 1953. VH-UXP, a Beech C 17B Staggerwing, won this race with well-respected Australian pilot Hazel Roberts at the controls. Roberts flew the Beech for over six years from her sheep station, Ennis Downs, in Queensland.

Following a six-year 'ground up' restoration in New Zealand, C 17B Staggerwing, VH-UXP, debuted at Classic Fighters 2013. The Beech is almost identical to the famous 1936 Bendix Trophy-winning aircraft. Owners Cam and Tracey Hawley have returned VH-UXP to her original factory-delivered condition.  Cam, has said that his day job is to "operate" the Boeing 777, but away from work, he likes to "fly" the Staggerwing.

If you would like to find out more about this magnificent machine, we highly recommend the article written by Cam Hawley in Classic Wings Magazine Vol.20, No1 2013 Issue 89.
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