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Beech Aircraft Company built the muscular A17FS to compete in the 1934 MacRobertson race from London, England, to Melbourne, Australia, but it was withdrawn when financing failed to materialize. Powered by a 710 hp Wright Cyclone radial engine, the bullish Beechcraft served briefly with the U.S. Department of Commerce before
it was bought back by Walter Beech and disap- peared from the aviation scene.
(University Archives and Spe- cial Collections, Wichita State University Libraries)
Walter Beech and Ted Wells believed that an airplane’s strongest asset was its speed, and the bullish A17F had speed in spades. Capable of more than 220 mph, in its day it was a flying machine of the highest caliber. Sold to the Goodall-Worsted company in 1934, the ship was later owned by Howard Hughes but in 1942 met its fate in a hangar fire.
(University Archives and Special Collections, Wichita State University Libraries)
MAY 2022
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 25
