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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Beech 17 Staggerwing / C-43/GB Traveler
    Latest Model:D17S Staggerwing
    Last Military Serial:32870 USN
    Construction Number:6687
    Last Civil Registration:N16S
    Compressed ID:Beech D17S sn 32870 USN cn 6687 cr...
    Latest Owner or Location:Ecu Red Rockette Llc, Denver, CO

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    Dates

    Event

    Circa 1944

    Constructed as a D17S.

    1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Corps with s/n 44-67710.

    2 February 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 23675.

    May 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Navy with s/n FT466.

    June 1944

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 32870.

    Circa 1946

    To unknown owner with c/r N9455H.

    19 June 1956

    Certificate of airworthiness for N16S (D17S, 6687) issued.

    1964

    To Robert L. Younkin, Fayetteville, AR keeping c/r N9455H.

    1966

    To Allen C. Gunn, Saint Louis, MO keeping c/r N9455H.

    1969

    To Loren M. Edwards, Mooresville, NC keeping c/r N9455H.

    1971

    To William N. Schulz/Schulz Oil Co, Madison, NC keeping c/r N9455H.

    1973

    Aircraft completely rebuilt.

    1976

    To William N. Schulz, Madison, NC with new c/r N16S.

    1983

    To T. Gibson Ltd, Rockford, IL keeping c/r N16S.

    1987

    To T. Gibson and F. Cannaud, Rockford, IL keeping c/r N16S.

    1990

    To Frank Cannavo, Lester, PA keeping c/r N16S.

    1991

    To T. Gibson, Rockford, IL keeping c/r N16S.

    14 February 1994

    To William M. Charney, Reno, NV keeping c/r N16S.

    Circa 1998

    Bill Chaney was a United Airlines captain who retired to NZ.

    Circa 1998

    Shipped to NZ for 5 year restoration by Croydon Aircraft Co at Mandeville.

    From 2002 to 2005

    Restored.
    Markings Applied: Red Rockette
    Restored to factory specification and most woodwork replaced and metal components reskinned.

    12 September 2006


    Photographer: Arthur Scarf
    Notes: Hangared, during restoration by Croydon Aircraft Company in Mandeville, New Zealand in 2006

    6 February 2009


    Photographer: Graeme Mills
    Notes: 2009 photo at Gisborne, New Zealand

    2014

    Markings Applied: FT466
    Finished in Royal Navy markings.

    14 June 2014


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: Arriving at the Air Britain Fly-in at North Weald in June 2014

    14 June 2014


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: Arriving at the Air Britain Fly-in at North Weald in June 2014

    Was based at various places in Europe from the early 2010s.

    September 2019

    Ferry flight.
    It flew from Dijon to Goodwood, England.

    Based with Goodwood, England.

    January 2022

    Owner Bill Charney died.

    Circa 4 December 2022

    Ferry flight.
    Flown from Goodwood to Coventry.

    12 December 2022

    To Ecu Red Rockette Llc, Denver, CO keeping c/r N16S.

    22 June 2024


    Photographer: Mark Pearce
    Notes: Taken at the Sywell airshow 2024.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Aviation History Site by Geoff Goodall
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher
    Nigel Hitchman

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