National Air and Space Museum Archives

Beechcraft Model 17 Photographs

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.XXXX.0196
Creators:
Beech Aircraft Corp
Dates:
1930-1940
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.54 Cubic feet
(1 legal document box) (1 records center box)
1.46 Linear feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection contains a pictorial history of the development, design, manufacture, shipment, and delivery of Beech Model 17s. The material consists of photos showing details of engineering drawings, assembly parts and process, completed aircraft on line and in flight, and advertising art.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, KS was founded in 1932 by Walter Beech. The first aircraft produced by the company was the Model 17, a four- or five-place cabin biplane with pronounced negative stagger. This feature made the type one of the most recognizable aircraft of the 1930s and earned it the name "Staggerwing." The first Staggerwing flew on 4 November 1932 and broke 200 mph, faster than most current military aircraft. Larger engines, retractable landing gear, and aerodynamic modifications improved performance, so that by 1939 the aircraft cruised at 200 mph with top speeds in the 250 mph range. During World War II the Staggerwing served in the United States military as the UC-43 (Army Air Force) and GB (Navy) and in the British Royal Air Force as the Traveller. Following the war, Beech briefly marketed the G17S as the final production Staggerwing.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Beech Aircraft Corp., gift, 1985, XXXX-0196

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Beech 17 Staggerwing, General Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics, Commercial -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beech, Walter Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beech Aircraft Corp Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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