Beechcraft Staggerwing - Model 17R page 4

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Facts Sheet on the Beechcraft Model 17R

The Beechcraft Staggerwing had a gross weight of 4250 lbs. and an empty weight of 2,800 lbs. Its top speed was 212 mph and cruise speed of 201 and stalled at 60. Its inital climb rate was 1,500 feet per minute with a ceiling of 20,000 feet and a range of 1,300 miles. It could take off from a grass runway over a 50 foot obstacle in 1,130 feet and landing over a 50 obstacle in 980 feet.

The original version was powered by a 420 horse power Wright Cyclone but over its life was fitted with eight different engines. the first model from 1934 to 1936 were powered with a 285 hp Jacobs, 285hp Wright, 225 hp Jacobs and 420hp Wright. The most popular engine was the 420 hp Pratt and Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior nine cylinder built from 1937 to 1945. The last versions made were fitted with 450 hp Pratt and Whitneys in the "G17" version which when cruising at 53% power at 185 mph used 22(US) gallons of fuel an hour. It was these later models with six fuel tanks, one in each wing, one forward fuselage and one aft fuselage tank that carried a total of 170 (US) gallons of fuel and would give the aircraft a range of 1,300 miles or seven hours.

Plane and Pilot's 1981 Aircraft Directory reports that 781 Staggerwings were produced, of those 353 were for commerical use and 428 went to the military. In 1981 there were 250 still in existence with 150 in flying condition with more then half of those being owned by airline pilots.

Facts Sheet on the Beechcraft Model 17R The Beechcraft Staggerwing had a gross weight of 4250 lbs. and an empty weight of 2,800 lbs. Its top speed was 212 mph and cruise speed of 201 and stalled at 60. Its inital climb rate was 1,500 feet per minute with a ceiling of 20,000 feet and a range of 1,300 miles. It could take off from a grass runway over a 50 foot obstacle in 1,130 feet and landing over a 50 obstacle in 980 feet.
The original version was powered by a 420 horse power Wright Cyclone but over its life was fitted with eight different engines. the first model from 1934 to 1936 were powered with a 285 hp Jacobs, 285hp Wright, 225 hp Jacobs and 420hp Wright. The most popular engine was the 420 hp Pratt and Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior nine cylinder built from 1937 to 1945. The last versions made were fitted with 450 hp Pratt and Whitneys in the "G17" version which when cruising at 53% power at 185 mph used 22(US) gallons of fuel an hour. It was these later models with six fuel tanks, one in each wing, one forward fuselage and one aft fuselage tank that carried a total of 170 (US) gallons of fuel and would give the aircraft a range of 1,300 miles or seven hours. Plane and Pilot's 1981 Aircraft Directory reports that 781 Staggerwings were produced, of those 353 were for commerical use and 428 went to the military. In 1981 there were 250 still in existence with 150 in flying condition with more then half of those being owned by airline pilots.