Beech Staggerwing on the way

[Bridon Bear]

Alabeo have announced the imminent arrival of the Beechcraft D17S 'Staggerwing' for FSX coming soon. I have been looking at their screenshots and it is a superb looking model indeed...just my sort of aircraft Saw the real thing at Rendcombe airfield some years ago and although rather unusual with the staggered wing layout, the enclosed cabin and retracts must make for a very fast and comfortable biplane.

http://www.alabeo.com/index.php?accion=incoming

Regards

Bridon Bear

[dodger]

Hello,

That's a nice looking model, something to keep an eye on,

Thanks for posting,

Roger.

[Airspeed]

Saw a real one at Avalon Air Show, but didn't get a good photo.

[DaveB]

I'm sure I caught one at Duxford a few years ago. Not sure whether I like em.. it's one of 'those'.. 'those' being, something I don't know if I like or not

ATB
DaveB

[Bridon Bear]

I'm sure the one 'doing the rounds' on the airshow circuit and fly-ins is a yellow one G-BRVE, I remember the example I saw which could have been 'RVE about 20 years ago open up the throttle ready to take off and hold on brakes for a few moments...loverly sound as I was only about 20 metres away and I clearly recall seeing the yellow wheel doors resonating like mad.

Yes it is a quirky sort of 'plane that was unique and expensive back in the 30's when it first appeared, the backward stagger of the wings gave the pilot good visibility, a hefty 450hp radial and retracts ensured a speedy form of travel for the executive to cruise at 200mph easily.

The military version was called the Traveller 1 in the UK and apparently was used under the lend lease scheme by the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm so possible repaints abound but I do like the yellow one though

Regards

Bridon Bear

[DarrenL]

Saw one fly at Old Warden, described as the Cadillac of the Skies and it sounded like one as well.

Here's a fly by, from another - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cw2v3G25kE

[DaveB]

It was RVE Brian.. here she is at Duxford. This shot saved me going through mine!

Lovely condition as everything that turns up there is

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benallsup/838992265/

ATB
DaveB

[T6flyer]

I'm looking forward to this, as have quite a few hours in G-BRVE when she used to live at North Weald with Intrepid Aviation. Hope that someone will reproduce her for the simulator.

Had a look through my logbooks and most of my trips in her, seem to be from North Weald to Orsett and return, together with a couple of flights flying circuits on the grass runway at North Weald. Its all quite a long time ago now, so don't remember much about it all, but had this sixth sense when she was about to touch down on grass as my knees would slide together for some unknown reason. Was always told by the pilot, he knew when we were about to touch down as away went my knees!!! Due to the coiled spring on the undercarriage legs, remember she did bounce a bit on uneven surfaces.

Cheers,

Martin