| Short 360 | |
|---|---|
| An Air Seychelles Short 360 | |
| Role | Transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Short Brothers |
| First flight | 1 June 1981 |
| Primary users | Air Cargo Carriers Emerald Airways Aeroperlas Skyway Enterprises |
| Produced | 1981–1991 |
| Number built | 165 |
| Developed from | Short 330 |
| Variants | C-23B/C Sherpa |
The Short 360 (also SD3-60) is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.
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The Short 360 is a 36-seat derivative of the 30–33 seat Short 330. In high density configuration, 39 passengers could be seated. The two Short airliners share a high degree of commonality and are very close in overall dimensions and size. The later 360 is easily identified by a larger, swept tail unit mounted on a revised rear fuselage. The 360 has a 3 ft (91 cm) fuselage "plug" allowing two more seat rows and six extra passengers to be carried, while the extra length smoothed out the aerodynamic profile and reduced drag. Seating is arranged with two seats on the starboard side of the cabin and one seat on the port side. The 360's wingspan is slightly greater and its power is supplied by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65Rs. The development was announced in 1980, with the prototype's first flight on 1 June 1981 [1] and type certification awarded on 3 September 1981.
Once in production, Short marketed a number of 360 developments, the first of which was the 360 Advanced with 1,424 shp (1,062 kW) PT6A-65-ARs. The 360 Advanced was introduced in late 1985, soon followed by the further improved 360/300, which entered service in March 1987. The 360/300 introduced advanced six-blade propellers, more powerful PT6A-67R engines, and other aerodynamic improvements, giving a higher cruise speed and improved "hot and high" performance. The 360/300 was also built in 360/300F freighter configuration. Total production was 164 aircraft.[1]
The Short 360 entered service with Suburban Airlines (later merged with Allegheny Airlines/US Airways) in November 1981. Building on the strengths and reputation of its earlier 330 antecedent, the 360s found a niche in regional airline use worldwide, being able to operate comfortably from 4,500 ft (1,400 m) long runways – opening up hundreds of airfields inaccessible by scheduled flights. With a cruise speed about 215 mph (370 km/h), at an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,048 m), the 360 was not the fastest turboprop in its market but it offered more than acceptable performance for a reasonably affordable pricetag combined with ease of service and maintainability.[2] The PT6A turboprops are fully ICAO Stage 3 noise-compliant, making the 360 (and its 330 cousin) one of the quietest turboprop aircraft operating today. Production on the 360 ceased in 1991 after 165 deliveries.[3] As of 1998, approximately 110 360s were in service.[3] In 2009 a retired Emerald Airlines 360 was bought by Kingsland Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent, for use as a mobile classroom. [4]
A total of 11 hull loss accidents have been recorded for the Short 360,[5] with one more probable in the wake of the recent Air Cargo Carriers incident.[6]
In August 2006, a total of 87 Short 360 aircraft (all variants) were in airline service, with Air Seychelles (2), Deraya Air Taxi (2), Freedom Air (2), South Pacific Express (2), Air Contractors (3), Aerocondor (4), Aurigny Air Services (1), Benair (1), Emerald Airways (10), Nightexpress (2), Aeroperlas (8), Air Cargo Carriers (19), Air Santo Domingo (1), AirNow (3), Pacific Coastal Airlines (2), Roblex Aviation (7), Servicios Aéreos Profesionales (1), Skyway Enterprises (8), Trans Air (1) and Trans Executive Airlines (4).[10]
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89[20]
General characteristics
Performance
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