Short S.26

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G-Class
Type Transport Flying Boat
Manufacturer Short Brothers
Maiden flight 21 July 1939
Primary users Royal Air Force
Imperial Airways/BOAC
Number built 3

The Short S.26 G-class was a large transport flying-boat with non-stop transatlantic capability intended for commercial service. Three aircraft were ordered by Imperial Airways, with the help of an Air Ministry subsidy in view of their potential for military use. With the onset of World War II all three were impressed into military service; only one aircraft was in operation when hostilities ended, remaining in service until 1947.

Contents

[edit] Design

The S.26 was designed as an enlarged Short C-Class Empire flying boat, also incorporating features from the Short Sunderland. Powered by four 1,400 hp Bristol Hercules sleeve valve engines, the Short S.26s (or "Golden Boats") were designed with the capability of crossing the Atlantic without refuelling, and were intended to form the backbone of Imperial Airways' Empire services.

[edit] Development

The first aircraft (G-AFCI "Golden Hind") was first flown by Shorts' Chief Test Pilot, John Lankester Parker, on July 21 1939; the second (G-AFCJ "Golden Fleece") and third (G-AFCK "Golden Horn") aircraft were flown on February 24 and July 8 1940 respectively.[1] Although two aircraft were handed over to Imperial Airways for crew training, all three were impressed (along with their crews) into the RAF in 1939 before starting civilian operation. They were modified by Shorts and Blackburn Aircraft, (Dumbarton, Scotland) to S.26/M military configuration before delivery to the RAF as X8275, X8274 and X8273 respectively. Armament comprised eight 500 lb (227 kg) bombs under the wings, two dorsal and one tail Boulton Paul BPA Mk. II four-gun turrets and internal stowage for 20 reconnaissance flares, 28 flame floats and 8 smoke floats; ASV radar was fitted, as was armour plating for the internal fuel tanks and the crew stations.[2]

[edit] Operation

The G-Boats served with No. 119 Squadron RAF from early 1941 and with No. 10 Squadron RAAF, flying stores to Gibraltar and Middle East, during which X8274 (Golden Fleece ) was lost off Cape Finisterre on 20 June 1941 when it broke up following a heavy forced landing due to the simultaneous failue of two engines. Golden Horn and Golden Hind were returned in December 1941 to BOAC (created in November 1939 by the merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd.) and fitted out for 40 passengers in 'austerity' seating and operated between UK and Nigeria. Golden Horn was lost at Lisbon on January 9 1943 when an engine seized and caught fire on a test flight following an engine overhaul; Golden Hind was employed on other routes in UK and West Africa until the end of the war and remained in service with BOAC until 1947; she was eventually scrapped in 1954 without ever having been employed again.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Barnes and James, pp.334-341
  2. ^ Barnes and James

[edit] External References

  • Barnes C.H. & James D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London (1989): Putnam, 560. ISBN 0-85177-819-4. 

[edit] Operators

[edit] Specification

Data from British Aircraft Directory[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 7
  • Capacity: 28
  • Length: 101 ft 4 in (30.9 m)
  • Wingspan: 134 ft 4 in (40.9 m)
  • Height: ()
  • Wing area: 2,160 ft² (201 m²)
  • Empty weight: 37,705 lb (17,100 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 74,500 lb (33,800 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4× Bristol Hercules IV sleeve valve, 1,400 hp () each

Performance

Armament

8 x 500 lb (227 kg) bombs under the wings
two dorsal and one tail Boulton Paul BPA Mk. II four-gun turrets
20 reconnaissance flares
28 flame floats
8 smoke floats

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