| G-Class | |
|---|---|
| Role | Transport Flying Boat |
| Manufacturer | Short Brothers |
| First flight | 21 July 1939 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force Imperial Airways/BOAC |
| Number built | 3 |
| Developed from | Short Empire |
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 pressed into military service; only one aircraft was in operation when hostilities ended, remaining in service until 1947.
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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 (1,044 kW) Bristol Hercules sleeve valve radial 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. As planned the first built would be intended for long range runs, the second would operate medium length runs (2,000 miles) with a dozen passengers, and the third short range (1,000 miles) with 24 passengers. At the extremes they could fly 6,000 miles unburdened or 150 passengers for a "short hop".[1].
There were structural changes from the C class in building the G-class; a greater use of extrusions rather than bent sheet sections. This helped to keep weight down.
The first aircraft, (G-AFCI "Golden Hind"), was first flown by Shorts' chief test pilot, John Lankester Parker, on 21 July 1939; the second (G-AFCJ "Golden Fleece") and third (G-AFCK "Golden Horn") and aircraft were flown on 24 February and 8 July 1940 respectively.[2] Although two aircraft were handed over to Imperial Airways for crew training, all three were pressed (along with their crews) into the RAF in 1939 before they could start civilian operation. They were modified by Shorts to S.26/M military configuration before delivery to the RAF as X8275, X8274 and X8273 respectively. Defensive armament was 12 0.303 inch machine guns in two dorsal and one tail Boulton Paul BPA Mk II four- gun turrets. Offensive armament was eight 500 lb (227 kg) bombs under the wings. There was internal stowage for 20 reconnaissance flares, 28 flame floats and 8 smoke floats. Air to surface vessel (ASV) radar was fitted, as was armour plating for the internal fuel tanks and the crew stations.[3] After modification at Rochester, and before they entered service, an Airborne Surveillance Radar was fitted by Blackburn Aircraft Limited at Dumbarton in Scotland.
The G-Boats served with No. 119 Squadron RAF from early 1941 and with No. 10 Squadron RAAF, flying stores to Gibraltar and the 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 failure 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 the UK and Nigeria.[4] Golden Horn was lost at Lisbon on 9 January 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 retired in 1947;[5] she was eventually scrapped in 1954 following an extended period derelict on the shore at Harty Ferry on the Isle of Sheppey.[6]
Data from British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972:Volume III [5]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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