Warbird Information Exchange

When I was at Flying Magazine in the 1970s, James Gilbert did a Staggerwing Beech article in which, at one point, he referred to it as "the Staggering Bitch." (We got a number of furious letters from Stag enthusiasts protesting this heresy.)

My question: is this something Gilbert made up, or was the 17 actually known among some of the irreverent as the Staggering Bitch?

I have hundreds of hours in them and our family owned one for years and have never heard it referred to in such a way. I think I remember the article, but like many writers opinions, this one I don't believe is universal.
Most derogatory remarks come from those that have never flown one, or those that have trouble understanding it's operation.
Chris...

Thanks. From what I've seen on this and another forum (PPRuNe), the lack of replies and the few "never heard of it" replies convinces me that it's something Gilbert made up. I don't think he meant to be derogatory, just cute...

'one more drink before the fight starts...'

Also know as the Staggering Woodpile..

Or he may have heard it from the guy who made it up-probably the only mech around who couldn't work on it.
Being in the Nat'l Waco Club, I'm used to the non-aviating masses calling Waco cabins Staggerwings. 'Yeah, but it's staggered the wrong way."