Beech 17 Staggerwing
The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing gets its name from its unusual biplane layout, in which the lower wing sits slightly ahead of the upper one rather than directly beneath it, an arrangement chosen to improve pilot visibility and handling. Despite its old-fashioned biplane looks, it was remarkably fast for the 1930s, competitive with contemporary monoplane racers of its era. Its retractable landing gear, unusual on a biplane, further cut drag and boosted its speed advantage. Wealthy private owners and air-racing pilots prized it, and a number of beautifully restored examples still fly at air shows today.
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Did you know?
The Beechcraft Staggerwing's lower wing sits ahead of the upper one, a reversed 'negative stagger' layout, and retractable gear made it uncommonly fast for a 1930s biplane.
Specifications
| Length | 8.2 m (27 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 9.8 m (32 ft) |
| Height | 2.6 m (9 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 3 |
| Persons on board | 4 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 1.9 t |
| Range | 700 NM (1,296 km) |
| Maximum speed | 174 kt (322 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 20,000 ft (6,096 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 490 m (1,608 ft) |
| Landing distance | 560 m (1,837 ft) |
| Engines | 1x Pratt & Whitney R-985 (radial) |
| Units built | 23 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Beech 17 Staggerwing starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Beech, the 17 Staggerwing family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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