Wide World Photos from the collection of Tom Heitzman-stuffinder.com
Roosevelt Field 1933
The following photo is from
Kevin Holcomb's web page.
Did this aircraft have doors on both sides, or is this photo printed backwards? I can't tell for sure, the twist in the prop and the logo on the tail look correct in this print.
This Staggerwing is one of only four fixed landing gear Staggerwing. Although the landing gears were "somewhat retractable" in that the wheels can be retracted up into the wheel pant. Here's a list of the fixed gear Staggerwings,
SN 1 17R November 1932 NC499N Wright R-760-E2, 420 hp
SN 2 17R July 1933 NC58Y Wright R-760-E2, 420 hp
SN 5 A17F February 1934 NC12583 Wright R-1820, 690 hp
SN 11 A17FS November 1934 NC12569 Wright R-1820-F2, 710 hp
There are some design features which are unique to the Model 17R. These two aircraft are the only ones to have, a split rudder speed break, wire braced tail. Eddie Ross had one of these tail brace wires break. He said the rudder pedal hit him in the foot, but the aircraft continued to fly. They are also the only Staggerwing to use a variable angle-of-attack horizontal stabilizer for trim. Eddie Ross did not trust the electric model and jack screw used in this trim system, so he had a elevator tab added to SN 2 as a backup, but there was never any trouble with the original trim system.
Here's some more information about SN 2 from the book STAGGERWING! by Smith and Lempicke."Ship number two was finished on June 19, 1933, but was not ready for delivery until July. Registered NC58Y it had the narrow landing gear, rigid tailwheel, and engine cowling with individual cylinder openings. George Hart checked Eddie Ross out in the new ship, and Eddie flew it to Tulsa."
"It was a handful. With its narrow gear, rigid tailwheel, and torque from a 420 horsepower Wright engine, NC58Y was anything but a docile kitten on landings and takeoffs. Eddie freely admits he had one hundred hours in the airplane before he knew for sure where it was going on a landing."
"On one of his first takeoffs he did a beautiful groundloop. Later he learned to hold the wheel back to keep the tailwheel on the ground until he had plenty of speed. Then, he would raise the tail slightly and allow the airplane to fly off."
"The sale of NC58Y to Loffland Brothers Company was the first sale of a new Beechcraft airplane, and the only sale the company made during its first two years of existence."
This aircraft was used by the Loffland Brothers to fly into oil fields. On one takoff from a short dirt strip NC58Y, with Eddie Ross at the controls, hit an oil polish rod. The right lower wing was hit about even with the I strut. The wing tip was bent back, but the steel wing spars keep the wing together. Eddie was able to land straight ahead in a small field.
