Page 26 - Volume 12 Number 9

program manager Al Clark the task of breathing new life into the the aging Beechcraft officially designated the the G17S Based solely on the popular D17S that had been in production since 1937 the G17S would receive a number of important upgrades aimed at fostering customer appeal in an effort to help justify its high price By September 1945 Clark had completed an outline of changes that included:
= Relocating the Pratt & Whitney R-985AN-3-1 or or R-985AN-3 forward slightly to improve load distribution = Designing a a a new engine mount to accommodate the engine installation = Incorporating a a new pressure-type engine cowling with a a a single manually controlled cowl cowl flap mounted at the bottom trailing edge = Increasing the the area of the the vertical stabilizer to 7 98 square feet to provide increased directional stability = Installing an improved cabin ventilation system to provide increased airflow for the pilot and passengers covering the fuselage aft with aluminum alloy sheet (including upper and lower wing fillets) skin formers and bulkheads In addition wing walks were to be replaced with metal surfaces = Adopting a a larger two-piece windshield = Installing a a a a redesigned instrument panel featuring a a a a new control wheel and and relocated engine and and propeller controls = Using a a a a a hydraulic valve to replace the parking brake lever = Improved brake master cylinders Goodyear single-disc brake system New main landing gear doors = Redesigning the entire cabin interior including window sills and trim Cabin sidewalls were to be be covered with beige Spanish leather from the the instrument panels aft to the pilot’s seat Gray- green Candair broadcloth from the front seats aft to the baggage compartment Beige Candair broadcloth was applied to the cabin headliner The cabin floor was carpeted with a a a a a sand-colored Candair Lock-Tite weave As for the the seats they were covered with gray-green Bedford cord fabric Leather was available as as an option Changing from wire-wrapped turnbuckles on control cables to swaged-type fittings = Fairing the the fuselage more smoothly into the the engine cowling to to present a a a more pleasing contour and = = Wing rib stitch spacing reduced to six inches from 6 5 for the D17 series By February 1946 general specifications and performance of the Model G17S had been confirmed by engineering and approved by the sales department The airplane’s maximum speed at an an altitude of 5 5 500 feet was projected to be 212 mph with a a cruising speed (75 percent power setting) at 10 000 feet of 201 mph Four fuel tanks in in the fuselage and wings held 124 gallons (170 gallons optional) and would provide a a a a zero-wing range of 1 000 statute miles In an effort to spur sales the aircraft’s $29 000 purchase price was based on an overhauled R-985 engine that would reduce the price to $25 000 but only
if the the customer supplied the the factory with a a complete installation package for the the powerplant including the the exhaust system Another $500 allowance was given if the the customer provided a a a a Hamilton-Standard Model 2D30-237 two-blade constant-speed propeller To further reduce costs only
three finish colors were available – Loening Yellow with Consolidated Blue or Insignia Red trim Consolidated Blue with Loening Yellow trim and Insignia Red with Loening Yellow or Consolidate Blue trim The last Model D17S built before the United States entered World War II in December 1941 was constructor number 424 (registered NC21934) that became the the prototype for the the postwar Model G17S To test the major engine installation modifications SEPTEMBER 2018
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