Engineering:Short SC.7 Skyvan

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Short description: 1963 transport aircraft family by Short Brothers

SC.7 Skyvan
Skyvan at RAF Fairford, England, 2018
Role Utility aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Short Brothers
First flight 17 January 1963
Status In limited service
Produced 1963-1986
Number built 149
Developed into Short 330
Short 360
C-23 Sherpa

The Short SC.7 Skyvan (nicknamed the "Flying Shoebox")[1] is a British 19-seat twin-turboprop aircraft first flown in 1963, that was manufactured by Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Featuring a basic rugged design and STOL capabilities, it was used in small numbers by airlines, and also by some smaller air forces. In more recent years the remaining examples were mostly used for short-haul freight and skydiving.

The Short 330 and Short 360 are regional airliners developed from the original SC.7.

Design and development

In 1958, Short was approached by F.G. Miles Ltd (successor company to Miles Aircraft) which was seeking backing to produce a development of the Hurel-Dubois Miles HDM.106 Caravan design with a high aspect ratio wing similar to that of the Hurel-Dubois HD.31. Short acquired the design and data gathered from trials of the Miles Aerovan based HDM.105 prototype. After evaluating the Miles proposal, Short rejected the Caravan.[2] They developed their own design for a utility all-metal aircraft which was called the Short SC.7 Skyvan. The Skyvan is a twin-engined all-metal, high-wing monoplane, with a braced, high aspect ratio wing, and an unpressurised, square-section fuselage with twin fins and rudders.[3] It was popular with freight operators compared to other small aircraft because of its large rear door for loading and unloading freight. Its fuselage resembles the shape of a railroad boxcar for simplicity and efficiency.


A Short Skyvan (centre) together with the two types developed from it, Short 360 (front) and Short 330 (rear) at 1982 Farnborough Airshow

Construction started at Sydenham Airport in 1960, and the first prototype first flew on 17 January 1963, powered by two Continental piston engines.[4] Later in 1963, the prototype was re-engined with the intended Turbomeca Astazou II turboprop engines of 520 shp (390 kW);[5] the second prototype (the first Series 2 Skyvan) was initially fitted with Turbomeca Astazou X turboprop engines of 666 shp (497 kW) but subsequently the initial production version was powered by Turbomeca Astazou XII turboprop engines of 690 shp (510 kW). In 1967, it was found that the Astazou XII was temperature limited at high altitudes.[6] Consequently, in 1968, production switched to the Skyvan Series 3 aircraft, which replaced the Astazou engines with Garrett AiResearch TPE331 turboprops of 715 shp (533 kW). A total of 149 Skyvans (including the two prototypes)[7] were produced before production ended in 1986.

Operational history

Skyvan 3 converted for survey work by Questor Surveys, 1975

Skyvans served widely in both military and civilian operations, and the type remained in service in 2009 with a number of civilian operators, and in military service in Guyana and Oman.

Skyvans continue to be used in limited numbers for air-to-air photography and for skydiving operations. In 1970, Questor Surveys of Toronto Canada converted the first of two Skyvan 3s for aerial geological survey work. The Collier Mosquito Control District uses Skyvans for aerial spraying.[8] NASA operated a single Skyvan at Wallops Island Flight Facility between 1979 and 1995, which was used to perform aerial recovery of parachute-borne payloads ejected from high-altitude balloons and sounding rockets.

Skyvan G-BEOL appeared in the film Kingsmen: The Secret Service as the aircraft trainee kingsmen skydived from.

Variants

G-ASCN Shorts SC.7 Skyvan 1A prototype with Turbomeca Astazou engines, 28 APR 1964
SC.7 Skyvan 3A-100 at Oulu Airport, Finland in 2005
Skyvan 1
prototype, one built. 2 × Continental GTSIO-520 engines.
Skyvan 1A
re-engined 1st prototype. 2 × 388 kW (520 hp) Turbomeca Astazou II engines.
Skyvan 2
Turbomeca Astazou powered production. 8 Series 2 produced (including the second prototype).
Skyvan 3
Garrett TPE331 powered production. 140 produced (of all Series 3 versions) plus 2 Series 2 were converted.[9]
Skyvan 3A
higher gross weight version (MTOW 6,214 kg, 13,700 lb).[10]
Skyvan 3M-100, -200, -400
military transport versions with higher gross weights; 3M-200 (MTOW 6,804 kg, 15,000 lb); 3M-400 as per Skyvan 3A.[11] Used for supply dropping, assault transport, dropping paratroops, troop transport, cargo transport, casualty evacuation, plus search and rescue missions.[12]
Skyliner 3A-100
deluxe all-passenger version, large cargo door removed, cabin accessed through standard size side door.[12]
Seavan
Maritime patrol version, single example (serial '915', SH.1942) used by the Sultan of Oman's Air Force / Royal Air Force of Oman (SOAF / RAFO) (conversion from basic 3M-400)[13]

Operators

Civilian operators

SX-BBO SC.7 Skyvan 400 Olympic Airways at Mykonos ca 1975
A British Airways (Scottish Division) Short Skyvan on the beach (Barra Airport) ca 1974

Former (airline) operators

  • BEA / British Airways (Scottish Division) - operated three 1971-74
  • Busy Bee / Air Executive Norway A/S - operated three 1974-84
  • Gulf Aviation / Gulf Air - operated a total of six 1971-1983[14]
  • Loganair - operated one 1969-74[15]
  • Olympic Airways - operated two 1970-93[16]
  • Papuan Airlines (PNG) - operated two 1968-73[17]
  • Wien Consolidated (Alaska) - operated four 1967-74
  • Oman Aviation/Oman Air - operated three 1981-1993

Current operators

The Short Skyvan is popular as a skydiving launch platform

Skyvans still active in 2022–2024 include[18]

  • Collier Mosquito Control District (FL): N642M, N643M, N644M [19]
  • Perris Skydive (CA): SH.1859, 1885, 1907, 1911,
  • Pink Aviation (Austria): SH.1881, 1932, 1964
  • Skydive Deland (FL): SH.1842
  • Skyforce (Poland): SP-HOP (SH.1906), (sister ship SP-HIP SH.1962 written off 3 Sept 2022),[20] Ayit Aviation (Israel) 4X-AGP / SH.1893,[21]
  • Win Aviation (USA): Up to nine Skyvans[22][23]

Military operators

 Guyana
  • Guyana Defence Force - Five acquired 1979-81, believed non-operational (2019). Two additional second-hand examples acquired in June, 2019.[24][25]
 Oman
  • Royal Air Force of Oman: Oman continues to operate five of its original 16 Skyvans as of December 2013.[26][27]

Former military operators

Argentine Naval Prefecture Skyvan 'PA-51' on display at the Museo Sitio de Memoria ESMA in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This particular aircraft was used to carry out death flights during the Dirty War.
 Argentina
  • Argentine Coast Guard: Bought five in 1971; two written off during Falklands War, remaining three sold in 1995 following replacement by five CASA C-212 Aviocars. In 2023 one of these Skyvans returned to Argentina and is on display at ESMA, Buenos Aires as a memorial to those killed in the notorious Death Flights.[28]
5S-TA, Austrian Air Force Skyvan 3M-400 in 2005 (now at Zeltweg Museum)
 Austria
  • Austrian Air Force 5S-TA & 5S-TB. 'TA now preserved at Militärluftfahrtmuseum, Zeltweg AB[29][30]
 Botswana
  • Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
 Ciskei
  • Ciskei Defence Force
 Ecuador
  • Ecuadorian Army
 Gambia
  • Military of Gambia
 Ghana
 Indonesia
  • Indonesian Air Force
 Japan
  • Japan Coast Guard
 Lesotho
  • Lesotho Defence Force – Air Squadron
 Malawi
  • Malawi Police Force Air Wing
 Mauritania
  • Mauritania Islamic Air Force: bought two Skyvan 3Ms in 1975[32]
 Mexico
  • Mexican Air Force
   Nepal
  • Nepalese Army
    • Nepalese Army Air Service
 Panama
  • Panamanian Public Forces
 Singapore
  • Republic of Singapore Air Force
    • 121 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force operated the Skyvan 3M for Utility transport and Search-and-locate duties from 1973 to 1993.
Royal Thai Police compound at Bangkok Don Mueang-DMK, October 2014. In view are three Shorts SC.7 Skyvans, a Shorts SD3-30, plus three PC 6 Turbo Porters, and a Fokker F-50
 Thailand
  • Royal Thai Police
    • Thai Border Patrol Police
 United Arab Emirates
 Yemen
  • The Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) Air Force operated two Skyvans as of 1984. These aircraft were subsequently absorbed into the Yemen Air Force in 1990 as a result of Yemeni unification.[34]

Specification (Skyvan 3)

Data from Jane's Civil and Military Upgrades 1994-95[35]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1–2
  • Capacity: 19 passengers
  • Length: 12.21 m (40 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.79 m (64 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in)
  • Wing area: 35.12 m2 (378.0 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 3,331 kg (7,344 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 5,670 kg (12,500 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 1,109 L (244 imp gal; 293 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-2-201A turboprops, 533 kW (715 shp) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-B3TN-5/T10282H variable-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 324 km/h (201 mph, 175 kn) max cruise at 3,050 m (10,010 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 278 km/h (173 mph, 150 kn) econ cruise at 3,050 m (10,010 ft)
  • Stall speed: 111 km/h (69 mph, 60 kn) flaps down, EAS
  • Never exceed speed: 402 km/h (250 mph, 217 kn) EAS
  • Range: 1,115 km (693 mi, 602 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 6,858 m (22,500 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 8.3 m/s (1,640 ft/min)
  • Takeoff run to 15 m (50 ft): 482 m (1,581 ft) (STOL)
  • Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 567 m (1,860 ft) (STOL)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ The UAE is a federation of 7 Sheikdoms, each of which maintain a small army known as the Amiri Guard. One of which, the Emirate of Sharjah, purchased two Skyvan 3M's in the 1970's, and then sold them to the UAE air force in 1995.[33]

Citations

  1. ↑ "Your Place And Mine - Topics - Transport - The Flying Shoebox - The Shorts Skyvan". https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/transport/A957558.shtml. 
  2. ↑ Barnes 1990, pp. 477–478
  3. ↑ Barnes 1990, pp. 478–481
  4. ↑ Barnes 1990, p. 481
  5. ↑ Barnes 1990, p. 482
  6. ↑ Barnes 1990, pp. 486–487
  7. ↑ Barnes 1990, pp. 531–533
  8. ↑ "Collier Mosquito Control District 2019 Open House". https://www.winknews.com/events/collier-mosquito-control-district-2019-open-house/. 
  9. ↑ Barnes 1990, p. 488.
  10. ↑ "Aircraft Register Search 'G-BAIT'". https://www.caa.co.uk/aircraft-register/g-info/search-g-info/. 
  11. ↑ "Aircraft Register Search 'G-BCFJ' (to Ghana AF)". https://www.caa.co.uk/aircraft-register/g-info/search-g-info/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Short SC7 Skyvan". https://aircraftrecognitionguide.com/short-sc7-skyvan. 
  13. ↑ "Oman AF SC.7 Skyvan '915'". https://www.airhistory.net/photo/428146/915. 
  14. ↑ Bucher, F.E.; Klee, Ueli (1977). JP Airline-Fleets. Zurich Airport: Editions JP. p. 10. 
  15. ↑ "Loganair - BBC article dated 27 Dec 2022". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-63505252. 
  16. ↑ "SX-BBN (read photo caption)". https://www.airliners.net/photo/Olympic/Short-SC-7-Skyvan-3-400/1445806. 
  17. ↑ "Papuan Airlines - Photo showing two Skyvans at Port Moresby, PNG". https://www.airhistory.net/photo/152580/VH-PNJ. 
  18. ↑ "SC.7 Skyvan photos, date ordered". https://www.airhistory.net/pub/show.php?type_basic_id=1164&sort_by=sort_date_desc. 
  19. ↑ "Collier Mosquito Control District adds new airplane and helicopter to fleet". Collier Mosquito Control District. October 21, 2022. https://cmcd.org/collier-mosquito-control-district-adds-new-airplane-and-helicopter-to-fleet/. 
  20. ↑ "SP-HIP accident 3 September 2022". https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/318767. 
  21. ↑ "Short Skyvan 4X-AGP". https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/11326979. 
  22. ↑ "Win Aviation Fleet details". https://winaviation.com/our-fleet/. 
  23. ↑ "SC-7 Skyvan Specifications & Capability Statement (pdf)". https://winaviation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SC-7_Skyvan_Capability_Statement_05-2024.pdf. 
  24. ↑ "Guyana gets Skyvans (2019)". https://www.keymilitary.com/article/guyana-gets-skyvans. 
  25. ↑ Hoyle 2013, p. 38
  26. ↑ Hoyle 2013, p. 43
  27. ↑ Taylor 1982, p. 271
  28. ↑ "Death Flight plane to return to Argentina". https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/24/argentina-dictatorship-death-flight-plane-return-from-us. 
  29. ↑ "Skyvan 5S-TA at Zeltweg May 2024". https://www.airhistory.net/photo/696102/5S-TA. 
  30. ↑ "Short SC.7 SRS 3M "Skyvan"" (in de). http://www.gotech.at/skyvan.htm/. 
  31. ↑ "Ghana Air Force". http://www.ghanaairforce.com/. 
  32. ↑ Cooper, Tom; Grandolini, Albert (2018). Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 1: Air Warfare Over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-912390-35-9. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Air Force Magazine" (in en). Air Force Association. July 1996. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ong5vNzvuBwC&dq=%22Sharjah+Amiri+Guard%22&pg=RA3-PA72. 
  34. ↑ Cooper, Tom (2017). Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 1: Aerial Warfare Over the South Arabian Peninsula, 1962-1994. Solihull, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-912174-23-2. 
  35. ↑ Michell 1994, pp. 228–229

Bibliography

  • Barnes, C. H.; James, Derek N. (1990). Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-819-4. 
  • Hoyle, Craig (13–19 December 2011). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International: 26–52. ISSN 0015-3710. 
  • Hoyle, Craig (10–16 December 2013). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International 184 (5419): 24–51. ISSN 0015-3710. 
  • Jackson, A. J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft Since 1919 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10014-X. 
  • Michell, Simon, ed (1994). Jane's Civil and Military Upgrades 1994-95 (Second ed.). London: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7. 
  • Taylor, John W. R., ed (1982). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2. 

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