VH-WEE - 1938 BEECHCRAFT 17 STAGGERWING

1938

BEECHCRAFT

17 STAGGERWING

203

VH-WEE

Used

A most distinctive vintage aircraft for the discerning buyer. This is a pristine 1938 D model Staggerwing. Serial No 203 it has been a civil aircraft throughout its entire service life and is one of only seven built with two entry doors. It has a strengthened undercarriage structure to permit ski/float operations and has G model gear doors. Its previous owner, Robin Campbell operated the aircraft in New Zealand from 1998 to 2008 after being imported from Canada. It has featured in many magazine articles and displayed at most air shows over that time. The present owner Doug Drummond purchased the aircraft in 2007 and ferried it across the Tasman Sea to Australia via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands in 2008. Since its arrival in Australia the aircraft has been hangered at Bathurst Airport in the Central West region of New South Wales, 200km west of Sydney, Australia. The aircraft is featured in the aviation magazine Classic Wings, following its importation to New Zealand. Doug Drummond is now approaching an age where he feels that it is time to hand over custodianship of this historically significant aircraft to a discerning pilot with the passion and enthusiasm to preserve if for future aviators to enjoy. AIRCRAFT HISTORY This aircraft was manufactured by Beech in Wichita, Kansas, USA on 9h April, 1938 and registered as CF-CCA. It retained this Canadian registration until the change to the New Zealand register as ZK-AMU. The original customer was the Controller Civil Aviation, Canada and was used by that government department. It was purchased by Morely (Moe) Servos in 1979 and a six year rebuild saw it back in the air in April 1985. The restoration included complete airframe stripping, repainting and all new Syka Spruce and Finnish Ply. Moe kept the aircraft until selling it to the New Zealand owner in 1995 when it was flown to California and shipped to New Zealand for re-assembly. The aircraft was then been based at Robin Campbell’s hangar at Ardmore Aerodrome, Auckland, New Zealand until Doug ferried it across to Australia in 2008. Doug Drummond purpose built a single hangar for the aircraft in 2008 where it has remained to the present. It has the registration of VH-WEE reserved on the Australian register. AIRCRAFT CONDITION The aircraft has been maintained in an operational condition covered by ground risk insurance. It has not been maintained in a flying condition as it requires a CASA regulation 35 modification to install shoulder harnesses to the flight crew seats to meet the requirements for an Australian Certificate of Airworthiness. Doug took the decision not to fly the Staggerwing because of the high insurance costs, the historical significance of the aircraft and his minimal experience on type. As the aircraft arrived in Australia in flying condition and has been carefully maintained. It is the opinion of the supervising LAME that it will only require an annual inspection to put in flying condition under US or other registration where harness modifications are not mandatory.

3655.0

3655 TT

P&W 985 14 B 5,610 TT 789 SOH ENGINE LEAK DOWN TEST RESULT Cylinder 1: 77/80 Cylinder 2: 71/80 Cylinder 3: 74/80 Cylinder 4: 76/80 Cylinder 5: 79/80 Cylinder 6: 78/80 Cylinder 7: 68/80 Cylinder 8: 77/80 Cylinder 9: 77/80

Hamilton Standard 2D 30 789 TT

Electric artificial horizon Vacuum artificial horizon Vacuum directional gyro Heated pitot head King KA-155 Nav/Comm King 96 720 Comm King KN64 DME King KR87A ADF King KI-227 ADF indicator PS Engineering stereo audio panel and intercom Trimble 2000 Approach GPS King KT-76A transponder King KE-127 encoding altimeter King KI-209 VOR-ILS indicator Century 2000 auto pilot Dorne & Margellan ELT S

The aircraft is predominantly red (Huntsman Red) with navy blue (Insignia Blue) trim in the classic bird Staggerwing scheme. New Ceconite fabric was used during its rebuild and finished with butyrate dope. Regular maintenance of the aircraft over the last ten tank covers has seen a rebuild/repaint of the cowling in 2002 and repair of the upper wing fuel tank covers in 2003. The aircraft is, and has always been, stored indoors. The aircraft is fitted with wing tip strobes, four leading edge landing lights and red fuselage upper and lower anti-collision lights.

CD changer installed underfloor allows stereo music to all seats. The four-place interior is finished with grey leather seats, grey tweed wool carpeting and walnut trim.

The aircraft Annual Review of Airworthiness is due. Altimeter, transponder and radio inspections due. The aircraft is furnished with a complete set of documentation: - Log books since June 1943 (1938 – 1943 was lost prior to the restoration in the 1980’s) - Pilot Operating Handbooks - New Zealand CAA Aircraft Flight Manual for the aircraft - Aircraft Maintenance Manual and Revisions - Pratt and Whitney Engine Overhaul Manuals - Complete aircraft parts list book - Various historical and technical publications. - Flight Instrument operating instruction manuals