N17CV 1943 Beechcraft 17 Staggerwing

Overview

This airframe is registered as N17CV, a Beech Model 17 Staggerwing built in 1943 with manufacturer serial number 4893 by Beech Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft is a United States-registered, fixed-wing single-engine type and retains the classic executive cabin arrangement characteristic of late-production Staggerwings. Publicly available records for ownership timeline, operator base, and specific registry actions for this registration are not published; no contemporary valuation or detailed condition reports are included in the supplied data. Any notable historical events or ownership changes for this specific tail number are therefore not documented here.

Operations & Cabin

This particular Staggerwing features the classic one-pilot plus three to four passenger executive cabin layout with a small dedicated baggage compartment, typical of Beech Model 17 interiors configured for owner-operators or executive transport. Avionics fitment for this individual airframe is not published in the supplied data; mission profiles for the type historically include short- to medium-range business hops, courier flights, and legacy charter operations consistent with its 582 nm range and 176 kts cruise. Based on seating and cabin configuration, typical routings would emphasize cross-country executive travel rather than high-density passenger service. Maintenance considerations for this airframe would reflect single-engine radial powerplant ownership and vintage airframe upkeep, but specific maintenance history for N17CV is not provided.

Model & Market Context

The Beech Model 17 Staggerwing occupies a niche as a high-performance 1930s-1940s-era executive biplane, prized for its speed and upscale cabin relative to contemporaries. With a single Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior and a service ceiling of 25,000 ft, the model competes historically with other prewar executive types rather than modern light singles. Demand on the collector and vintage charter market tends to favor well-documented provenance and maintenance records; resale and maintenance costs reflect the specialized nature of vintage radial engines and alloy airframes, though specific appraisal data for this airframe is not included.