1937 Beechcraft "Staggerwing" Model F-17D NC18555

The design of a Beechcraft Model 17 sets it apart from all other planes. The profile view of its biplane wings & retracted landing gear present a look of motion that's unique to this day. When a spectator saw one in flight over 75 years ago, he coined its now well known descriptive nickname: "The Staggerwing". This website documents the last 5 years of a 15 year long restoration of a Model D-17S Staggerwing.

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Russ Latta's D-17S Landing At Frazier Lake Airpark


"Swinging The Gear" on Bill Thursby's G-Model Staggerwing


Bob & Jane Hoff's D-17S Visiting Frazier Lake Airpark


Wan & Yon Perras' Immaculate D-17S


The Staggerwing Has More Than 10,000 Parts


Cutting & Welding The Tubular Steel Fuselage


Checking the Fuselage Tubing For Accurate Alignment Repair


Fuselage Formers & Stringers, Cables & Pulleys


Wood Formers & Stringers Make Up The Fuselage "Birdcage"


Finished "Birdcage" With Doors, Tail Wheel & Tail Feathers


Rebuilt Seat Frames With New Rails, Hardware & Cabin Floor


New Right Lower Wing Under Construction


Wing Construction Close Up


Finished Lower Wing and Flap with A Fresh Coat of Varnish


Right Lower Wing's Custom Made Metal Leading Edge


Fitting The New Right Lower Wing to The Fuselage


Fitting The Rebuilt Left Lower Wing to The Fuselage


Fitting The Fuselage's Right Side Sheet Metal & Wing Walk


Fitting The Fuselage's Left Side Sheet Metal & Wing Walk


Assembly of Fuselage, Tail Feathers & Lower Wings


Rigging All 4 Wings With The I Struts & Landing/Flying Wires


Fitting The Metal Fairing Panels Under The Belly Tank


Newly Fabricated I Strut Fairing On Lower Wing


Protective Canvas Tail Wheel Mechanism Cover


Inside View of The Fuselage With Its Poly Fiber Cover On


Poly Fiber with Poly Spray on the Fuselage


Fuselage With AeroThane Polar Gray Polyurethane Paint


Repairing The Engine Cowl Lower Half "Hat Ring" Bracket


Engine Cowl Lower Half With Replacement Center Panel


Rebuilt Dumore Landing Gear Motor by Bob Hayes


Restored & Polished 29 Gal Fuel Tank Under Cabin Floor


Chrome Plated Spinner Ready For The New Prop


Hamilton Standard 2D30-235-6167A-12 Prop From Johnson's


Overhauled R-985 by Aero-Engines in Los Angeles, CA


R-985 Ready To Run On The Aero-Engines Test Stand


Fabricating The Upper & Lower Instrument Panels


Progress On the Instrument Panel & Interior Upholstery

A Few More Controls to Attach & The Panel Will Be Done


Cabin Leather, Carpet & Wool Headliner Taking Shape


The R-985 Almost Ready for Air, Oil, Spark & Gas


The Hamilton Standard 2D30 Propeller All Polished Up


A Couple More Months and She Should Be Ready To FLY


First Engine Run on December 30, 2010


In The Paint Shop For The Fuselage "Bird" Stripes


Out of The Paint Shop & Ready For The Last Few Details!


Colors are Polar Gray, Diana Creme and Tennessee Red


Now Flying From Frazier Lake Airpark (1C9), Hollister, CA


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