Commonly known as the "Staggerwing" the Beechcraft Model 17 was designed by T. A. Wells as a fast fast executive biplane, it first flew in November 1932, three years later it was modified by increasing the length of the fuselage and moved the Ailerons to the upper wings, at the same time linked the brakes to the rudder pedals to improve control whilst taxeing. At the time of it's introduction the Beechcraft Staggerwing was very expensive and as many companies were still recovering from the great depression, however by the outbreak of WWII a total of 424 aircraft had been produced, some of these had even been used as bombers in the Spanish Civil War. Many Beechcraft Staggerwings were impressed into service with the US Army Air Force and the United States Navy during WWII and hundreds of additional aircraft were especially produced for the USAF and designated the UC-43 for overseas use. When production finally ceased in 1949 a total of 785 Beechcraft Staggerwings had been produced. | 
