<p>Known widely as the Staggerwing, the Beech Model 17 was first flown in 1934 and was the first design to appear from the factory Walter Beech opened after he left the Travel Air organization. Of light alloy construction with fabric covering, the Beech 17, with its comfortable enclosed four/five-seat cabin, quickly became established in the United States civil market and 424 had been built by the time the US government took the nation into World War II in 1941.
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<p>The initial production variant was the B17L with a 225-hp (168-kW) Jacobs L-4 radial engine, followed by the B17B with the more powerful 285-hp (213-kW) Jacobs L-5, while the B17R and B17E, which were introduced in 1935, were both powered by Wright engines, the former by the 420-hp (313-kW) R-975 and the latter by the 285-hp (213-kW) R-760. Later developments included the D17S with a 450-hp (336-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior and the F17D, powered by a 330-hp (246-kW) Jacobs L-6.
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<p>Comfort and performance were also among the requirements for the transportation of senior US military officers, and the Beech 17 was evaluated in this role, initially by the US Navy with one C17R powered by a 450-hp (336-kW) Wright R-975 and given the military designation JB-1. Ten examples of the D17S were acquired in 1939, with the designation GB-1, later supplemented by a small number of impressed civil aircraft and well over 300 GB-2s, many of which were among 105 Beech 17 Travellers supplied to Britain under Lend-Lease and used principally by the Royal Navy.
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<p>The US Army Air Corps purchased three D17S aircraft in 1939, designating them YC-43. A production order for 27 UC-43s was placed in 1942; these were powered by the R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior and incorporated some interior and equipment changes, which resulted in an increase in gross weight to 4,700 lb (2,130 kg). Two subsequent orders for 75 and 105 UC-43s brought the total USAAF procurement to 207 aircraft. As in the case of the US Navy, at the outbreak of hostilities many civil Beech 17s were impressed and given designations in the range UC-43A to -43H, -43J and -43K. The former civil model numbers were D17R, D17S, F17D, E17B, C17R, D17A, C17B, B17R, and D17W, respectively.
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<hi style=hdr1>Specification</hi>
<list style=aflst>
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> four/five-seat liaison and communications aircraft
<item><hi format=bold>Powerplant (UC-43):</hi> one 450-hp (336-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior radial piston engine
<item><hi format=bold>Performance:</hi> maximum speed 198 mph (319 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,525 m); cruising speed 170 mph (274 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,525 m); service ceiling 20,000 ft (6,095 m); range 500 miles (805 km)
<item><hi format=bold>Weights:</hi> empty 3,085 lb (1,400 kg); maximum take-off 4,700 lb (2,123 kg)
<item><hi format=bold>Dimensions:</hi> span 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m); length 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m); height 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m); wing area 296 sq ft (27.50 m<su>2</su>)
