Beechcraft Staggerwing N233EB

This project came to Big Sky Stearman in a basket and founding members of Vintage Flying Service contracted to provide the restoration services.

The aircraft was built in 1938 and went to Indian National Airways which was a subsidiary of Imperial Airways. Indian National Airways Ltd was an airline based in Delhi, India. The airline was formed on the basis of a government airmail contract.

The company was started by Govan Bros Ltd. in May 1933. It became the second airline to start operations in India in December 1933, with a weekly passenger and freight service between Calcutta and Rangoon as well as between Calcutta and Dhaka. It also started a weekly service between Karachi and Lahore, a feeder service for Imperial Airways. The company then had a fleet made up of light single engine aircraft. By 1937 the airline had clocked over a million miles and made a slender annual profit.

The airline was awarded another government contract in 1938 under the Empire Air Mail Scheme for carrying first class mail on the Karachi - Lahore and Karachi - Columbo routes for a period of ten years along with Tata Airlines. This was a major boost for aviation in India. As this contract promised a minimum income along with an operating subsidy, the company was able to expand and renovate its fleet. During World War II, all mail contracts were suspended and aircraft put under government disposal. Only spare capacity was allowed for commercial use, which affected the industry on the whole.

It was one of the four major airlines in India at the time of Indian Independence in 1947. Govan Bros Ltd. and all its businesses, including Indian National Airways Ltd, was sold to the Dalmia Group in 1947 and its name was subsequently changed to Dalmia-Jain Airways. As of 1947, the airline had a fleet of six Vickers Vikings with another nine DeHavilland Dove’s on order. The company also bought some war-surplus Douglas DC-3 aircraft from the United States of America at the end of the war. In 1953 Indian National Airways was nationalized and merged into Indian Airlines.

N233EB was brought back to the USA in the early 1970’s as a “pile of parts project” by the new owner. Chuck Hamilton then purchased the project and proceeded to restore the Staggerwing in his garage. He made some significant progress, but then it was put on hold. Jim Parrish was looking for a project and contacted John Pike, owner of Big Sky Stearman for recommendations. John pointed him in the direction of N233EB. Vintage Flying Service founding members then contracted with Big Sky to provide the restoration services. The Beechcraft Staggerwing is a complex and complicated vintage aircraft. From the retractable landing gear to the compound curved empanage giving the ship it’s elegant look. Three years and 6000+ hours later the Staggerwing took to the air. Many hours were spent researching this particular aircraft’s details and history setting N233EB apart from other Staggerwings in the community. The paint scheme with the Indian National Airways logo helped achieve that look. The airplane turned out amazing and the projects’ final goal was to make it to Oshkosh. Unfortunately, this was not realized and is another story to be told.