Short S.8 Calcutta

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Calcutta
Type	Biplane flying boat
Manufacturer	Short Brothers
Maiden flight	February 21 1924
Primary user	Imperial Airways
Number built	7
Variants	Short Rangoon

The Short Calcutta or S.8 was a civilian flying boat made by Short Brothers.

The prototype made its first flight on February 21, 1924. It had three Bristol Jupiter engines and bi-plane wings. The two pilots flew the plane from an open cockpit while the radio operator shared the main cabin with the 15 passengers. The Calcutta was introduced in 1928 and was used by Imperial Airways flying the Mediterranean to Karachi leg of the Britain to India route.

A total of seven aircraft were built. A military version of the Calcutta, originally known as the Calcutta (Service type), was built as the Short Rangoon.

On 1 August 1928 a Short Calcutta flying boat (G-EBVG) alighted on the Thames at Westminster and was moored there for three days for inspection by Members of Parliament, and others.^[1]

Contents 1 Operators 2 References 3 Specifications 4 External links 5 Related content

[edit] Operators

• Imperial Airways

[edit] References

1. ^ [1] History of the British Airways, British Airways Archive and Museum Collection, accessed 2007-02-01

[edit] Specifications

Data from http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=389

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 15
• Length: 66 ft (20.1 m)
• Wingspan: 93 ft (28.4 m)
• Height: 56 ft (17 m)
• Wing area: 1,825 ft² (170 m²)
• Empty weight: 13,845 lb (6,280 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 22,487 lb (10,200 kg)
• Powerplant: 3× Bristol Jupiter IXF , 550 hp (410 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 118 mph (190 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 97 mph (156 km/h)
• Range: 650 miles (1,046 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,500 ft (4,115 m)

[edit] External links

• Photo of Short S.8 Calcutta
• British Aircraft directory

[edit] Related content

 

 

Designation sequence

S.3b Chamois - S.6 Sturgeon - S.8 Calcutta - Crusader - S.10 Gurnard