Anyone have any experience with the D-17 staggerwing that Hobby Barn Sells?

If this is the old Royal kit (and I think it is) it's waaay heavier than you want to fly. Royal kits are well-designed, but the wood is heavy. Planes seem to be designed to take the power of much bigger engines than are recommnded.

If you want a Staggerbeach, look at the plans MAN and RCM have. check their web sites for plan lists.

howell

It is Marutaka. They kitted for Royal while Royal was alive. It is as box of wood that you carve an airplane out of. Reports are, that once done, they fly great.

Les

A friend and I built the Staggerwing (Royal version) two years ago. It is a builders kit. Luckily we had both the Royal and Maurataka plans whiched helped alot. There are things on the Royal plans that are not on the Maurataka and vice/versa. You will do a lot of carving and sanding. We have a RCV 120 in it and it flies great. Could probably have gone with the RCV 90.

Rich

Built a Royal kit with a scale interior, on-board glow driver, main and tail wheel retracts and a Saito .91, it's covered in Century 21 fabric and it came in at 10lbs. 4 oz. (yes, I did replace lots of the kit's wood and used lighter sheeting in place of the heavy 'planking' shown on the plan). While it requires a good pilot with experience on heavy scale ships, it flies great at that weight with plenty of speed and reserve power, but really needs the use of the flaps and holding airspeed on approach. Those thin wings will surprise you if you slow down too much, too close to the ground.