Short 330

The Short 330 was developed by Short Brothers of Belfast from Short's earlier Short Skyvan STOL utility transport. The 330 had a longer wingspan and fuselage than the Skyvan, while retaining the Skyvan's square-shaped fuselage cross section, allowing it to carry up to 30 passengers while retaining good short field characteristics.Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. {{ISBN|1-85605-375-X}}. The first prototype of the 330 flew on 22 August 1974.Taylor 1988, p. 304.

The Short 330 is unusual in having all of its fuel contained in tanks located directly above the ceiling of the passenger cabin. There are two separate cockpit doors for pilot and co-pilot for access from inside the cabin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.airliners.net/photo/Muk-Air/Short-330-200/890366|title=Aviation Photo #0890366: Short 330-200 - Muk Air|website=Airliners.net}}

While Short concentrated on producing airliners, the design also spawned two freight versions. The first of these, the Short 330-UTT (standing for Utility Tactical Transport), was a military transport version fitted with a strengthened cabin floor and paratroop doors,Taylor 1988, p. 306 which was sold in small numbers, primarily to Thailand, which purchased four. The Short Sherpa was a freighter fitted with a full-width rear cargo door/ramp. This version first flew on 23 December 1982, with the first order, for 18 aircraft, being placed by the United States Air Force (USAF) in March 1983, for the European Distribution System Aircraft (EDSA) role, to fly spare parts between USAF bases within Europe. Subsequently, a further 16 were ordered as C-23B Sherpas.

File:MVA Shorts 330 at Minneapolis - 9 Sept 1983.jpg's Short 330 at Saint Paul International Airport in 1985]]

The basic Short 330 was a passenger aircraft intended as a short-range regional and commuter airliner, and had been designed to take advantage of US regulations which allowed commuter airlines to use aircraft carrying up to 30 passengers,Donald 1999, p. 709–714. thereby replacing smaller types such as the Beechcraft Model 99 and the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. The Short 330 entered service with Time Air (a Canadian airline) in 1976. Despite its somewhat portly looks (one regional airline affectionately dubbed it the "Shed" {{Cite web|url=https://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/short-330/353|title=Airliners.net|website=Airliners.net}}), it soon proved to be an inexpensive and reliable 30-seat airliner.

The 330 was somewhat slower than most of its pressurised competition, but it built up a reputation as a comfortable, quiet and rugged airliner.Smith 1986, p. 2. The quiet running of the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R was largely due to an efficient reduction gearbox. The cabin was the result of a collaboration with Boeing engineers who modelled the interior space, fittings and decor after larger airliners. The use of a sturdy structure complete with the traditional Short braced-wing-and-boxy-fuselage configuration also led to an ease of maintenance and serviceability.

Production ended in 1992 with a total of 141 being built (including freighter and military versions).[http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=353 Airliners.net: Short 330] Access date: 18 June 2007 As of 1998, approximately 35 were still in service. The 330's design was refined and heavily modified, resulting in the Short 360.

• 330-100 was the original production model with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45A and -45B turboprop engines.Frawley 2003, p. 193.
• 330-200 included minor improvements and more powerful PT6A-45R engine.
• 330-UTT was the Utility Tactical Transport version of the 330-200, with a strengthened cabin floor and inward-opening paratroop doors.
• Sherpa was a freighter version of the 330-200 with a full width rear cargo ramp.
• C-23 Sherpa A, and B variants are military configured Short Sherpas. (NB The C-23B+ is a conversion of 28 Short 360 airframes.)

The aircraft is popular with air charters, small feeder airlines, and air freight companies.[http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/87145/world-airliner-census-2011.pdf Flight International 2011 World Airliner Census], p.22; retrieved 31 August 2011

{{AUS}}

• Sunstate Airlines

{{VGB}}

• Atlantic Air BVI

{{CAN}}

• Air Labrador

{{GRE}}

• Olympic Aviation

{{GUM}}

• Freedom Air

{{IDN}}

• Deraya Air Taxi

{{THA}}

• Bangkok Airways
• Thai Airways Company
• Thai Airways International

{{UK}}

• BAC Express Airlines
• British Air Ferries
• Brymon Airways
• Emerald Airways
• Gill Airways
• Titan Airways

{{USA}}

• Air Cargo Carriers
• Airways International
• Command Airways
• Corporate Air
• Crown Airways
• Skyway Enterprises

{{VEN}}

• Aeronaves del Centro

{{Main|C-23 Sherpa}}

;{{USA}}

File:A C-23 Sherpa from the California Army National Guard's Detachment 1, Company I, 185th Theater Aviation Brigade, flies over San Diego.jpg C-23 is a variant of the 330 model]]

• United States Air Force (C-23)
• United States Army (C-23)

;{{PHL}}

• Philippine Army (SD3-30){{cite news |title=Mining firm donates Sherpa cargo plane to AFP |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/01/mining-firm-donates-sherpa-cargo-plane-to-afp/ |work=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=26 June 2022 |title=The Donated SD3-30 (C-23) Sherpa Aircraft of the Philippine Army |url=https://www.pitzdefanalysis.net/2022/06/the-donated-sd3-30-sherpa-aircraft-pharmy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325105013/https://www.pitzdefanalysis.net/2022/06/the-donated-sd3-30-sherpa-aircraft-pharmy.html |archive-date=25 March 2023 |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=Pitz Defense Analysis}}

;{{TAN}}

• Tanzanian Air Force

;{{THA}}

• Royal Thai Army
• Royal Thai Police[http://www.scramble.nl/mil/7/rtaf/orbat.htm Scramble on the Web: Thai Armed Forces – Aircraft Order of Battle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083316/http://www.scramble.nl/mil/7/rtaf/orbat.htm |date=29 September 2007 }} Access date: 18 June 2007

;{{UAE}}

• United Arab Emirates Air Force[http://www.scramble.nl/ae.htm Scramble on the Web: United Arab Emirates Air Force Order of Battle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216044426/http://www.scramble.nl/ae.htm |date=16 December 2008 }} Access date: 18 June 2007

;{{VEN}}

• Venezuelan Air Force{{cite web|title=Arms Transfers Database|url=https://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|publisher=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|access-date=11 November 2022}}

{{As of|May 2017}}, the aircraft type has suffered three fatal accidents in civilian use:

• 3 August 1989. An Olympic Aviation Short 330, operating as Olympic Aviation Flight 545, crashed on a hillside in Samos island, Greece, while attempting a landing approach in thick fog. All 3 crew members and 31 passengers were killed.
• 25 May 2000. A Streamline Aviation Short 330 G-SSWN was hit by a departing aircraft (F-GHED, an MD-83 of Air Liberte) when it entered an active runway at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The wingtip of the departing plane slashed through the Short's cockpit and killed one of its pilots.{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20000525-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Shorts 330-200 G-SSWN Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)|first=Harro|last=Ranter|website=aviation-safety.net}}
• 5 May 2017. A Short 330 cargo plane owned by Air Cargo Carriers and operated as Air Cargo Carriers Flight 1260 crashed after suffering a hard landing at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. Early reports stated that the left wing made contact with the surface of the runway and separated from the fuselage, causing the aircraft to cartwheel off the runway and down a heavily wooded hillside. Both pilots died in the crash.{{cite news |url=http://www.wsaz.com/content/news/Cargo-plane-off-runway-at-Yeager-Airport-injuries-reported-421427433.html |title=Update: Yeager Airport runway crash site to be repaved in near future |work=WSAZ-TV|date=24 May 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2017/05/05/ntsb-begins-investigation-into-yeager-plane-crash/ |title=NTSB begins investigation into Yeager plane crash |work=MetroNews |last=Thomas |first=Alex |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=5 July 2017}}

In addition to these three accidents, there have been at least sixteen hull-loss occurrences, i.e., non-fatal accidents in which planes were damaged beyond repair.{{cite news |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/types/Shorts-330/losses |title=Accident list: Shorts 330 |work=Aviation Safety Network |last=Ranter |first=Harro|access-date=5 July 2017}}

G-BDBS msn SH3001, the production prototype, is on display within the Ulster Aviation Society's Heritage Collection of Shorts aircraft at the former RAF Long Kesh in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.{{cite web |title=Short SD3-30 |url=https://www.ulsteraviationsociety.org/sd-330 |website=Ulster Aviation Society |access-date=14 August 2024}}

G-OGIL msn SH3068 is on display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum in Sunderland, United Kingdom.{{cite web |title=Short SD330-100 'G-OGIL' |url=https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/resources/view/94064/ |website=Co-Curate |access-date=11 February 2022}}

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988–1989Taylor 1988, pp. 305–306.

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|crew=Three (two pilots plus one cabin crew)

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|cruise speed kts=160

|cruise speed note=(econ cruise at {{convert|10000|ft|m|disp=flip|abbr=on}})

|stall speed kts=73

|stall speed note= (landing gear and flaps down)

|range km=

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|range nmi=915

|range note=(no reserves, passenger version, {{convert|1966|kg|lb|abbr=on}} payload)

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=20000

|ceiling note={{cite web |url= http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/008b2d9df375254a862572a7005caa04/$FILE/A41eu.pdf |publisher= FAA |title= Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A41EU: Revision 13|date= 21 March 2007 |access-date=29 March 2019}}

|climb rate ms=

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{{Portal|UK|Aviation}}

{{aircontent

|related=

• Short 360
• Short C-23 Sherpa
• Short SC.7 Skyvan

|similar aircraft=

• Chase YC-122 Avitruc

|lists=

• List of civil aircraft

|see also=

}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• Barnes C.H. and James Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. {{ISBN|0-85177-819-4}}.
• Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Aurum, 1999. {{ISBN|1-85410-642-2}}.
• Frawley, Gerard. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004. London: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd., 2003. {{ISBN|1-875671-58-7}}.
• Smith, P.R. Shorts 330 and 360 (Air Portfolios 2) London: Jane's Publishing Company Limited, 1986. {{ISBN|0-7106-0425-4}}.
• Taylor, John W.R., ed. Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988–1989. London: Jane's Information Group, 1988. {{ISBN|0-7106-0867-5}}.

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Short 330}}

• [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=353 Short 330 page on Airliners.net]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-23.htm C-23 page on Global Security.org]

{{Short Brothers aircraft}}

Category:1970s British airliners

330

Category:High-wing aircraft

Category:Twin-turboprop tractor aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1974

Category:Twin-tail aircraft

Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear