PlaneFox tracks 1 Beechcraft Staggerwing 17 aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Beechcraft Staggerwing 17 flies about 582 nm, roughly 1,078 km, which is about 3 h 18 min in still air at typical cruise.
A Beechcraft Staggerwing 17 costs about EUR 3,252 a month to run, or about EUR 349 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Beechcraft Staggerwing 17 is a cabin biplane produced by Beech Aircraft Corporation from the early 1930s through 1949, with the prototype first flown in 1932. Officially the Beechcraft Model 17, it is best known as the Staggerwing because the lower wing is set ahead of the upper wing, an unusual layout intended to improve visibility and aerodynamic efficiency. It served as a high performance personal, business, military liaison and utility aircraft at a time when most private aircraft were slower, open cockpit or fixed gear designs. Its retractable landing gear, enclosed cabin and high power radial engines made it an important bridge between classic biplanes and modern executive aircraft.
Performance depends strongly on variant and engine installation. The commonly referenced D17S uses a 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine. Typical cruise speed is about 170 to 180 knots, with range commonly cited around 580 nautical miles. Service ceiling is approximately 20,000 feet for the D17S, and useful load is typically in the region of 1,100 to 1,300 lb depending on equipment, restoration standard and empty weight. Earlier B17 and C17 aircraft may use lower powered Jacobs or Wright radial engines and should not be compared directly with the later 450 hp models.
The Beechcraft Staggerwing 17 has an enclosed cabin, usually arranged for one pilot and up to four passengers, although exact seating and baggage capability vary by individual aircraft. The cabin is narrow by modern standards, but refined for its era, with automobile inspired trim often seen on restored examples. Avionics are not standardized. Original aircraft had basic analog instruments and radio equipment. Modernized examples may have Garmin GNS or GTN navigators, ADS-B equipment, transponders, audio panels and engine monitoring, while full Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective style integrated flight decks are not typical for this aircraft category.
Prospective buyers should evaluate the Beechcraft Staggerwing 17 as a historic aircraft rather than a conventional transport tool. Airframe condition, restoration quality, logbook continuity, engine time, propeller status, fabric condition, wood and steel tube structure, landing gear rigging and parts availability are central value drivers. Commonly encountered desirable variants include the D17S and postwar G17S, both associated with the 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985. Upgrades that improve usability include modern radios, ADS-B, improved brakes and carefully installed engine instrumentation. Market positioning is generally in the collectible, classic and vintage touring segment, where provenance, originality and workmanship can matter as much as published performance.