The design of the M 17 could be traced back via the powered S 16 and S 15 aircraft to the Messerschmitt-Hirth S 14 glider. The aircraft was a two-seater almost completely made of wood and weighed only 198 kg (. The engine was a 22 kW (29 hp) Bristol Cherub II. The pilot had no forward visibility.

In September 1926, pilot Eberhard von Conta, and the writer Werner von Langsdorff flew in an M 17 from Bamberg to Rome. This marked the first time the central Alps were crossed with a light aircraft. The flight lasted more than 14 hours and they had to refuel every three hours, since the tank could hold only 28 L . They reached an altitude of 4,500 m
Type Two seat trainer and sportplane
Engine 1 Bristol Cherub 1 ABC Scorpion
Dimensions Length 5.85 m, height 1.50 m, span 11.60 m, wing area 10.40 m2
Weights Empty 186 kg, load 184 kg, flying weight 370 kg 
Performance Max. speed 140 km/h, cruising speed 125 km/h, climb to 1000 m 12.5 min., service ceiling 4000 m, range 600 km
Type Werk.Nr Registration History
A 20 The Douglas engine taken from the S 16b. Took part in the Zugspitzflug  in Jan. 1925 (Competion number 3)
21 "Ello". ABC Scorpion engine. Took part in the Oberfrankenflug April 1925
22 Engine Jurisch/24TT250. Sold to Firma Jurisch-Pipping, Leipzig
23 D-613 ABC Scorpion, later Bristol Cherub. Took part in the Deutscher rundflug 1925 (Pilot H. Hackmack)
24 D-612 ABC Scorpion .Took part in the Deutscher Rundflug 1925 (Pilot H. Seywald). Delivered middle of 1925 to W. Kober, Berlin. From Dec. 1932 to F. Götz, Berlin
25 D-779 Bristol Cherub. Kept by the company. In Febr.1928 registered to Sportflug GmbH für Mittelfranken und Oberpfalz, Fürth. Now preserved at the Deutschen Museum, München
26 D-887 "Rolf". First ABC Scorpion, later Bristol Cherub. Sold to R. Weyermann, Bamberg. Used by Eberhard von Conta In September 1926, pilot Eberhard von Conta, and the writer Werner von Langsdorff flew  from Bamberg to Rome. This marked the first time the central Alps were crossed with a light aircraft. The flight lasted more than 14 hours and they had to refuel every three hours, since the tank could only hold 28 L (7 US gal). They reached an altitude of 4,500 m (14,760 ft).