Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Four-seat cabin biplane

Power Plant:

One 336 kw (450 hp) Wright Whirlwind R-975E-3 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

History:

Designed by Ted Wells for Walter Beech in 1930, the Model 17 was the first aircraft produced by the newly-formed Beech Aircraft Corporation. The prototype, which had a fixed undercarriage, flew for the first time in 1932. Early models did not sell well, partly because they became known as ‘hot ships’. The standard A-17R had a 313 kw (420 hp) Wright Whirlwind engine, and the A-17F was fitted with a 515 kw (690 hp) Wright Cyclone engine, the latter being capable of 402 km/h (250 mph). Development to meet customer requirements led to the installation of a wider and lower retractable undercarriage, and the lengthening of the fuselage to improve elevator response during landing.

By 1937 a series of models with engines of various powers was available, ranging from the 168 kw (225 hp) Jacobs to the 336 kw (450 hp) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior. Successive refined variants included the B-17B, C-17B, C-17L, E-17B and E-17L, all with the 213 kw (285 hp) Jacobs L5; the F-17D with the 246 kw (330 hp) Jacobs; the D-17A and D-17R with 261 kw (350 hp) and 336 kw (450 hp) Wright Whirlwinds respectively; and the D-17S with the Wasp Junior.

Prior to World War II a small number were used for air racing, one in 1937 being entered in the Phillips Trophy Race and achieving a speed of 309.62 km/h (192.4 mph). By the beginning of World War II, 424 had been built, and 207 of the type, which was chosen for liaison and communications duties by the US armed services, were delivered to the USAAF as the UC-43 and UC-63, and to the US Navy as the GB-1. After World War II ninety G-17S examples were built before production ceased in favour of the Beech 35 Bonanza.

Known affectionately as the ‘Staggerwing’, quite a number of examples of the Beech 17 have been seen in this region and placed on local civil aircraft registers.  Registered examples have included: VH-ACU (c/n 248), a Model F-17 first registered in March 1939, impressed by the RAAF as A39-1 during the war also for communications duties, and after a number of owners was retired and placed on display at Airworld, Wangaratta, VIC for a period until sold in 2003. It has since been restored as VH-AME, being based at Salisbury, SA.

VH-AFP (c/n 357 – ex NC20778), a Model D-17S, was operated by the Research Foundation of the Armour Institute of Technology during a survey of Antarctica from January 1940 to February 1942 and, equipped with skis and extra fuel tanks, it made 60 survey and research flights flown by US Marine Corps pilot Sergeant Theo Petras. It returned to the US and was sold in Australia, being impressed by the RAAF in July 1942 and operated as A39-2 on communications duties. It was converted to civil use in March 1947 but crashed near Dingo, QLD on 22 December 1963 whilst on seeding operations. Its remains were recovered in 2007 and taken to Caboolture, QLD. In late 2014 it was conveyed to Wanaka New Zealand where work commenced to restore it to airworthiness, using parts from VH-FNS (c/n 3108), fitted with a Wright R-760E2 engine and painted in its Antarctic Expedition scheme.

VH-BBL (c/n 6763 – ex LN-HAH, 44-67755), a Model D-17R, was built in 1944 as a UC-43 and came to Australia from Norway in 1954. Registered VH-MLC until March 1961, it became VH-BBL and spent some years with Joseph Drage at Wodonga as part of his collection.  It  later went to Airworld at Wangaratta, VIC.  It was later based in Queensland and was under restoration at Archerfield. In 2019 it was shipped to New Zealand for completion of its restoration.

VH-UYI (c/n 129), a Model C-17B, was first registered in June 1937.  It crashed on take-off at Archerfield, QLD on 21 May 1941 into heavily timbered country, both occupants being killed.

In 2021 the owner of VH-UXP acquired the airframe of an ex South African B-17L (c/n 18 – ex ZS-BBC) which had been eegistered to the Danish Vice Consul Otto Thaning in 1934. It suffered a landing accident and the airframe was placed in storage until imported to New Zealand for restoration.

VH-MJE (c/n 4922), a Model D-17S, was an ex-RAF machine first registered in February 1953. It was exported to South Africa in 1999 where it became ZS-OIX.

VH-UXP (c/n 108), a Model C-17B, which was first registered in February 1937, was operated by the RAAF as A39-3 during the war years, returning to the civil register in April 1952.  It was rebuilt to its original condition at Mandeville, NZ in 2011 and 2012. After touring that country and attending aviation events it was expected to eventually return to Australia and be placed on the Civil Aircraft Register.

ZK-AEU (c/n 107), a Model C-17L, was registered in New Zealand before World War II and operated on charter work, being impressed by the RNZAF as NZ573 during the war years.  It returned to the civil register as ZK-AJS and remained registered until March 1955 when it was exported to Australia where it became VH-BOU.  In March 1963 it became VH-PMG, and in April 1964 VH-TOT.  It crashed near Cooktown, QLD on 30 August 1967 whilst on agricultural work.  The wreck was taken to Geelong, VIC and later conveyed to Sydney, NSW, and later again to Caboolture, QLD where it has been undergoing long-term restoration.

A further Model D-17S was imported to Melbourne, VIC in early 2006, becoming VH-UUV (c/n 3108 – ex N1532M), but was returned to the United States later that year.  In 2007 this aircraft was again imported to Australia and became VH-FNS in September, beginning operations with Airborne Aviation Pty Ltd at Camden, NSW in 2008.  In 2010 it was sold and took up residence in Perth, WA.

Examples registered in New Zealand have included: ZK-AMU (c/n 203), a Model D-17S imported in the mid-1990s until November 2007 when it was sold to an Australian operator, becoming VH-WEE to its owner at Wentworth Falls, NSW, being based at Bathurst, NSW. However, it did little if any flying and in early 2022 was shipped back to a New Zealand operator.

A Model G-17S was imported to New Zealand in early 2004 and was assembled at Rangiora before taking up residence at Napier, becoming ZK-MOE.  A further Model D-17S (c/n 6687 – ex N16S) arrived later in the same year where it was restored by the Croydon Aeroplane Company at Mandeville and subsequently returned to the United States, later going to the United Kingdom.