A World War II-era Beechcraft Staggerwing aircraft owned by philanthropist Granger Haugh which was scheduled to be part of this weekend’s Cayman Islands Air Show has broken down on its way from the United States and won’t be able to continue its journey to Cayman.
Haugh said the plane had experienced problems with “gear and CO in the cockpit on the second leg” of the multi-leg trip from its home base in California.
Haugh, whose family foundation runs Beacon Farms in North Side, which offers second chances to recovering addicts, had hoped to bring his beloved Staggerwing Model 17 to Cayman for the upcoming air show.
He is a former US Navy and recreational pilot who has spent thousands of hours in the air, including piloting the Staggerwing, which he has restored to its original wartime UK Royal Air Force configuration and livery.
Haugh, 87, who hung up his own pilot’s wings in 2015, had arranged for the five-seater bi-wing plane to be flown here from Flabob Airport in Riverside, California, by pilot Matt Walker.
Haugh made his first solo flight more than 60 years ago, in 1958, as part of his US Navy training, back in the days when he was known as ‘Spike’ – a nickname he was given at military school which he attended between 7th and 10th grade.
After his Navy days, he went on to set up Cliniqa Corp., a US-based firm manufacturing products for medical laboratories. On retirement, he set up the Haugh Family Foundation, the non-profit behind Beacon Farms and other charitable endeavours, including supporting US veterans.
The history of his Staggerwing – since its construction in 1944, its role as a military aircraft during World War II and its civilian life afterwards – are outlined in a book, commissioned by Haugh, about the plane, called ‘Royal Navy Staggerwing FT-478’ by aviation author Celia Vanderpool.
The plane was built by renowned aircraft manufacturer Beechcraft in the US. It was one of 107 Staggerwings shipped to Britain during the war through a lend-lease arrangement, where it was designated as a Traveller Mark 1.
In the UK, it saw wartime service with 781 Squadron at Lee-on-Solent from 1944 until January 1945, and later with 701 Squadron at Heston until September 1945.
Mostly, Staggerwings did not take part in combat missions, instead being used as a courier and staff transport service, as well as for collecting meteorological data, reconnaissance, and advanced pilot refresher training.
After the war, it was returned to the US and sold into civilian use, as were many other similar aircraft that had been pressed into wartime service.
After a series of different owners, the FT-478 plane – now painted a bright yellow with blue stripes instead of the regulation silver-grey livery of its wartime RAF days – was purchased by Haugh in 1994.
The book describes how Haugh had been searching for a Beechcraft Staggerwing, stating, “He simply had to have one.”
The man who owned the plane at the time, Heinz Peier, had taken leave from Swiss Air to rebuild an aircraft at Chino, California, and had brought his Staggerwing with him to fly while the other one was in the workshop. He advertised that the Staggerwing would be up for sale, and Haugh made an offer.
Cayman Caravan
The Staggerwing has made a trip to Cayman before, when in 1999 Haugh flew the bi-plane cross-country from California to Florida, where he met up with his son Scott, and the pair then flew onto Grand Cayman as part of the Cayman Caravan crossing.
For years, every June, pilots on small aircraft would depart Key West on the Cayman Caravan, making the 328-nautical-mile journey that took them through Cuban airspace, before they landed at Owen Roberts International Airport.
The planes would take off from Key West in groups of four, a few minutes apart.
Vanderpool’s book quotes Haugh relating his experience with the Cayman Caravan.
“About 100 aircraft were to fly that day,” he said. “As more and more aircraft switched over to Cuban Air Traffic Control, the frequency congestion became unbearable. You could hear that most of the pilots had never flown over water and were concerned. … We felt pretty comfortable on the flight, probably because I have over 3,000 hours over water during my US Navy career.”
He continued, “The pattern at the George Town field was full when we arrived, and it took a while to set down and find our parking place.
“Customs and Immigration were quick at the [fixed base operator] Island Air, a rental car was ready, and we were on our way to Seven Mile Beach condo, the Beachcomber.
“The Cayman Caravan Committee organized several safety lectures, some evening activities, a small air show along Seven Mile Beach and opened the airfield to the Cayman people so they could see and experience the aircraft up close.”
For the first time in more than 20 years, people in Cayman will get a chance to experience the air show again this year, as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the landing of the first commercial flight at Owen Roberts.
Donated plane to museum
After many flights and adventures with the plane, in 2007, Haugh donated it to the National Warplane Museum in Geneseo, New York, which planned to restore the plane to its original RAF 1994 livery and configuration in recognition of its warbird status.
But before the restoration work could begin, in July 2008, as the plane was landing on a turf runway, its left gear collapsed, and it fell over onto its left wing and nose. The aircraft suffered wing, engine and propellor damage, preventing the museum, which did not have enough funds available, from restoring the plane.
It sat at the back of a hangar, grounded and wounded, for six years. Finally, in 2014, Haugh stepped back in to take on the repair and restoration of the aircraft that was so close to his heart.
“It looked so alone in the rear of the hanger that it just called out for help,” he told the Compass. “At the time, I had some extra cash that I could spend on the recovery. I did not know what the end cost in time and money would be.”
Asked why he is so enamoured with the Staggerwing that he’s taken possession of it not once, but twice, he said, “Everything about the aircraft is wonderful. It is a pleasure to fly, easy to land and has no bad habits. It is a beautiful part of aviation history.”
Cayman Islands Air Show
Among the vintage aircraft that will feature in the show are World War II-era C-47 Tico Belle and early airliner PBY Catalina. There will also be displays by the Red Bull Air Force’s precision parachute team; US skydivers Team Fastrax; Kirby Chambliss, five-time US national aerobatics champion; Brazilian Qyon Aero Sports Team; and Skip Stewart’s Prometheus Pitts Display, among others.
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