New! Read the short story "The Adventures of Beechcraft StaggerWing" by John Pike

Big Sky has completed a monumental restoration (involving some 6000 hours of labor) of a 1938 E17B Staggerwing. Some might say that it would be a risky investment to tackle such an endeavor, but an historically significant example such as this just can’t rot away and be lost to posterity. This Staggerwing went straight from the factory to Indian National Airways of New Delhi, India. INA was an agent for Imperial Airways of Britain. One can just imagine the adventures it must have experienced during WWII in that part of the world.

The aircraft became derelict sometime in the fifties, serving as a training aid in an Indian aircraft maintenance facility. It was imported back into the US in the 1970’s as a rotting basketcase. The aircraft was bought by Chuck Hamilton of Portland, OR who began the restoration. It was later acquired by Jim Parish owner of Phoenix Restorations of Brightwood, Oregon. Big Sky Stearman was contracted to finish the restoration.

Big Sky received the skeletal remains and performed a ground up restoration. The intent was to keep it as original as possible save for some safety and reliability modifications. The original Jacobs L5 285 hp engine was replaced by a Jacobs 755B2 engine of 275 hp. Other improvements included disk brakes, improved wiring, avionics. The original paint scheme and period upholstery was retained. Original low frequency communication and navigation radio consoles conceal modern IFR Garmin avionics.

After a 2 ½ year restoration period it flew on September 16, 2007, some sixty years after its last flight in India.



We would appreciate any knowledge of the history of India National Airways if someone has insight on that airline.