In 1936 ZK-AEU, a Staggerwing C17, was purchased directly from the Beechcraft factory in the USA, by the Auckland Aero Club in association with the St. John Ambulance Association.

 

It was one of the first aircraft in New Zealand to be set up as a dedicated air ambulance, and it was used to transport patients for urgent medical help including those with Polio, on either side of WWII. ZK-AEU first flew in NZ in the second week of May 1937 and was soon breaking speed records around the country while being used for charter and air ambulance duties. The Staggerwing was the equivalent of the modern ‘Lear Jet’ and at the time of its arrival in Auckland it was New Zealand's fastest aircraft with a cruise speed of about 165 mph. ​

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