Short 330

{{Short description|British transport aircraft}}  {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use British English|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox aircraft |name= Short 330 |image=File:N106SW MN Aviation Short 330-200 cn SH3072 (8448603091).jpg |caption=A Short 330 of [[MN Aviation]] landing at [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|Luis Muñoz Marín International]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]] |type = [[Airliner|Transport aircraft]] |manufacturer=[[Short Brothers]] |national_origin = United Kingdom |first_flight= 22 August 1974 |introduction=1976 |status= In limited cargo service |primary_user= [[Air Cargo Carriers]] |more_users = [[Corporate Air]] |produced=1974–1992 |number_built= 330-100: 68<ref name="Barnes">Barnes and James, p. 533-535.</ref><br> 330-200: 73<ref name=Barnes/><ref name="Baugher1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1988.html|title=1988 USAF Serial Numbers|website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref><ref name="Baugher2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1990.html|title=1990 USAF Serial Numbers|website=www.joebaugher.com}}</ref> |developed_from = [[Short Skyvan]] |variants = [[C-23 Sherpa|C-23A Sherpa]] |developed_into = [[Short 360]] }}

The '''Short 330''' (also '''SD3-30''') is a small turboprop transport aircraft produced by [[Short Brothers]]. It seats up to 30 people and was relatively inexpensive and had low maintenance costs at the time of its introduction in 1976. The 330 was based on the [[Short Skyvan|SC.7 Skyvan]]. The [[C-23 Sherpa]] was a military version of the 330. Production of the aircraft ended in 1992, after 141 were produced. The [[Short 360]] was a development of the Short 330.

==Development== 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.<ref name="donald world">Donald, David, ed. ''The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. {{ISBN|1-85605-375-X}}.</ref> The first prototype of the 330 flew on 22 August 1974.<ref name="Janes88 p304">Taylor 1988, p. 304.</ref>

The Short 330 is unusual in having all of its fuel contained in tanks located directly above the ceiling of the passenger cabin.<ref name="Janes88 p304"/> There are two separate cockpit doors for pilot and co-pilot for access from inside the cabin.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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,<ref name="Janes88 p306">Taylor 1988, p. 306</ref> 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,<ref name="Janes88 p306"/> 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.<ref name="Janes88 p306"/> Subsequently, a further 16 were ordered as C-23B Sherpas.<ref name=Baugher1/><ref name=Baugher2/>

==Operational history== [[File:MVA Shorts 330 at Minneapolis - 9 Sept 1983.jpg|thumb| [[Mississippi Valley Airlines]]'s Short 330 at [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport|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,<ref name="donald civil">Donald 1999, p. 709–714.</ref> 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 in aviation|1976]]. Despite its somewhat portly looks (one regional airline affectionately dubbed it the "Shed" <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/short-330/353|title=Airliners.net|website=Airliners.net}}</ref>), 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.<ref name="Smith p.2">Smith 1986, p. 2.</ref> The quiet running of the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R was largely due to an efficient reduction gearbox.<ref name="Smith p.2"/> 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.<ref name="Smith p.2"/>

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

==Variants== * '''330-100''' was the original production model with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45A and -45B turboprop engines.<ref name="Frawley_2003">Frawley 2003, p. 193.</ref> * '''330-200''' included minor improvements and more powerful PT6A-45R engine.<ref name="Frawley_2003" /> * '''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.)

==Operators==

===Civilian=== The aircraft is popular with air charters, small feeder airlines, and air freight companies.<ref>[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</ref>

'''{{AUS}}''' *[[Sunstate Airlines]] '''{{VGB}}''' *[[Atlantic Air BVI]] '''{{CAN}}''' *[[Air Labrador]] '''{{GRE}}''' *[[Olympic Aviation]] '''{{GUM}}''' *[[Freedom Air (Guam)|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

===Military=== {{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|thumb|The [[US Army]] [[Short C-23 Sherpa|C-23]] is a variant of the 330 model]]

* [[United States Air Force]] (C-23)<ref name="sipri "/> * [[United States Army]] (C-23)<ref name="sipri "/>

;{{PHL}} * [[Philippine Army]] (SD3-30)<ref name="Mining firm donates Sherpa cargo plane to AFP">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

===Former=== ;{{TAN}} * [[Military of Tanzania|Tanzanian Air Force]]<ref name="sipri "/> ;{{THA}} * [[Royal Thai Army]]<ref name="sipri "/> * [[Royal Thai Police]]<ref>[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</ref> ;{{UAE}} * [[United Arab Emirates Air Force]]<ref>[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</ref> ;{{VEN}} *[[Venezuelan Air Force]]<ref name="sipri">{{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}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents== {{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 operating as [[Air Liberté Flight 8807|Streamline Aviation Flight 200 was hit by a departing MD-83 operating as Air Liberté Flight 8807]] 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> *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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

== Aircraft on display == 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Short SD3-30 |url=https://www.ulsteraviationsociety.org/sd-330 |website=Ulster Aviation Society |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref>

G-OGIL msn SH3068 is on display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museum in Sunderland, United Kingdom.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Specifications (330-200)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988–1989<ref name="Janes88 p305-6">Taylor 1988, pp. 305–306.</ref> |prime units?=met  |genhide=

|crew=Three (two [[aviator|pilot]]s plus one [[flight attendant|cabin crew]]) |capacity= |length m=17.69 |length ft= |length in= |span m=22.76 |span ft= |span in= |height m=4.95 |height ft= |height in= |wing area sqm=42.1 |wing area sqft= |airfoil=NACA 63A series (modified) |empty weight kg=6680 |empty weight lb= |max takeoff weight kg=10387 |gross weight lb= |fuel capacity={{convert|2546|L|impgal USgal|abbr=on}}  |eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6]]A-45-R |eng1 type=[[turboprop]] |eng1 kw= |eng1 shp=1198 |eng1 kn= |eng1 lbf= |eng1 kn-ab= |eng1 lbf-ab=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts=190 |max speed note=(max cruise at {{convert|10000|ft|m|disp=flip|abbr=on}}) |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |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= |range miles= |range nmi=915 |range note=(no reserves, passenger version, {{convert|1966|kg|lb|abbr=on}} payload) |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=20000 |ceiling note=<ref>{{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}}</ref> |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=1180 |more performance=

|avionics= }}

==See also== {{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= }}

==References==

===Notes=== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{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}}

==External links== {{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]

[[Category:1970s British airliners]] [[Category:Short Brothers aircraft|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]]