NC80321 Serial Number B-20
“THE LAST STAGGERWING”
OSHKOSH GRAND CHAMPION 2002
BEECH AIRCRAFT 75th ANNIVERSARY DISPLAY AT OSHKOSH
POSTER PLANE FOR PRATT & WHITNEY 60th ANNIVERSARY
ENGINE: Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-1 450 hp
PROP: Hamilton Standard 2D30-6167-15
AVIONICS: King Silver Crown
EXTERIOR
Overall Vintage Red with Navy Blue and Gold Stripes. Paint is in excellent condition and tinted windows look new.
INTERIOR
Five-place seating in leather, side panels, carpet and headliner are all in excellent condition.
MAINTENANCE
This aircraft was completely restored and rebuilt in 2001 at Blue Max Aviation in San Diego, California. The restoration took 3 years with over 5000 man hours and was completed in 2001. The owner flew it to Oshkosh the next year and won the 2002 Vintage Class 1935-1946 Grand Champion.
This is one of the few Staggerwings that has had no major damage incidents. The last annual inspection was in May of 2024. All AD’s and SB’s are current.
Complete restoration photo history, original build documentation from Beech, and log book copies available upon request.
AIRFRAME MODIFICATIONS
DATE: 8/1/2003 MODIFICATION: Repaired upper left wing components using Poly-Fiber Process. Installed King KT76A Transponder.
DATE: 2/26/2001 MODIFICATION: Wood repairs to LH and RH upper wings. Wood repairs to LH and RH lower wings. Replaced all wood stringers, bulkheads, formers, gussets, blocks, headliner supports, and floorboards. Installed Alcor EGT gauge and probe, PS Engineering Intercom PM1000, Weldon fuel pump.
DATE: 4/26/1996 MODIFICATION: Installed Century Flight System 2000 Autopilot
DATE: 5/12/1983 MODIFICATION: Install Davtron M-202 Intercom
DATE: 1/3/1970 MODIFICATION: Recovered fuselage with Ceconite 101
DATE: 10/31/1967 MODIFICATION: Install King KX100 power supply
DATE: 12/3/1946 MODIFICATION: Original Airworthiness Certificate
1946 Beech G17S Staggerwing “The Last Staggerwing”
REGISTRATION: NC80321
SERIAL NUMBER: B-20
TOTAL TIME AIRFRAME: 2650 / 248.7 Since Complete Rebuild
ENGINE: P&W R-985 AN1 Serial Number JP-207292 Overhauled in 2001 by Sam Thompson
PROP: Hamilton Standard Serial Number 158780 Overhauled in 2001 by California Propeller
AVIONICS:
- PS Engineering PM1000 Intercom
- King KMA20 Audio Panel
- King KY197A/KY197 Comms
- Dual King KN53 Navs
- King KT76A Transponder
- Century 2000 Autopilot
MAINTENANCE:
- Annual Inspection by Hiebert Aviation LLC on April 1, 2023 at 248.7 hrs Hobbs time
- Compressions: #1 78, #2 79, #3 76, #4 78, #5 77, #6 79, #7 78, #8 78, #9 79
HISTORY OF “THE LAST STAGGERWING”
Back in the early 1930’s Walter Beech was working for Curtiss-Wright and had envisioned a new aircraft that would have a top speed of 200 mph and carry 4 four to five people in comfort. Designer Ted Wells went over what Beech wanted and created an unusual biplane with staggered wings. Beech took the idea to the Curtiss-Wright board of directors, but it failed to draw any interest.
So, when Walter Beech set up his own company in 1932, he completed the design, and it became the Model 17, the first production Beechcraft. Beech continued with improvements that increased performance, and the type went on to set outstanding records in commercial, racing and military operations.
The G17S was a post-war production model which began and ended in 1946. It was a vastly improved version of the model 17 with a new engine cowling, redesigned windshield, new exhaust system, new instrument panel, larger control surfaces on the tail, and many other refinements.
Production of the G17S would total just 20 aircraft. 16 of those were built by Beech, serial numbers B-1 through B-15 and B-20, the “Last Staggerwing”. The remaining four were assembled from components by Henry Seale Aviation Supply in Dallas. This particular aircraft is serial number B-20, built in Wichita and the last one built.
The “Last Staggerwing“, s/n B-20, NC80321, was rolled out on December 3, 1946 for its first test flight by V.L. Carstens. All early flights were recorded by the pilot in the logs. — Ending a pioneering period of American aviation Walter Beech kept s/n 20 and used it as his personal and company aircraft before selling it to a Kansas oil man, Willis Hartman. Hartman hired Ivan Behel as a pilot.
Behel flew Hartman all over: to his oil fields in central and western Kansas for business, up to Creede, Colorado, to a favorite fishing spot, and down to San Antonio, Texas, during the summer to play polo.
It went through a number of owners before the current owner found it in Florida.
She now sits in a hangar next to the ‘Doc‘, a restored B-29 Superfortress. Tim Wiebe, a fourth generation pilot and aviation insurance agent, has been flying both airplanes. Tim has said, “the aircraft seems to be a pretty straight forward airplane…. it is a Beechcraft product.
You can have it pulled out of the hangar and fired up pretty quickly…. The aircraft flies like a dream as one would expect.” He goes on to expound “how cushy the landing gear is on it, you can make some real greasers with the Staggerwing.”
For additional reading on this historic aircraft see the articles below:
- ‘The Last One‘ Air Classics Magazine Article
- ‘Doc’s Little Friend‘ Staggerwing Club News Article
- ‘Old Friends take Flight Again‘ Lawrence Journal World
- Letter from James E. Schuster, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft
*** CLICK HERE TO VIEW ADDITIONAL PHOTOS ***
SPECIFICATIONS of the Vintage Beech G17S
Wing Span: 32 feet
Length: 26 ft 9 in
Height: 8 ft
Wing Area: 296 sq ft
Empty Weight: 2800 lbs
Gross Weight: 4250
Wing Loading: 14.35 lb/sq ft
Power Loading: 9.44 lb/hp
Max Speed: 212 mph @ 5500 ft
Cruise Speed: 201 mph @ 10,000 ft
Climb: 1250 fpm
Ceiling: 20,000 ft
Powerplant: P&W R-985 AN-1 450 hp
CLICK HERE TO VIEW RECENT CERTIFIED APPRAISAL REPORT
OWNER WILL CONSIDER TRADES – ASKING $989,000
CONTACT: Tammy Bell (901) 834-1600
Aircraft subject to prior sale. Specifications subject to verification upon inspection.
