Short 360
The Short 360 (also SD3-60; also Shorts 360)[1] is a commuter aircraft that was built by British manufacturer Short Brothers during the 1980s. The Short 360 seats up to 39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.
Development
During the 1970s the world's commuter airline market began to evolve from the 20-seat class to larger and more comfortable cabins. Short Brothers of Northern Ireland created the Skyvan then the 330 which had 36 seats.
The Short 360 is a 36-seat derivative of the 30–33 seat Short 330. In high density configuration, 39 passengers could be carried. The two Short airliners have a high degree of commonality and are very close in overall dimensions. The later 360 is easily identified by a larger, swept tail unit mounted on a revised rear fuselage. The 360 has a 3'0" (91 cm) fuselage "plug" which gave sufficient additional length for two more seat rows (six more passengers), while the extra length smoothed out the aerodynamic profile and reduced drag.[1] Seating is arranged with two seats on the starboard side of the cabin and one seat on the port side. The 360's 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[2] and type certification awarded on 3 September 1981.
After initiating production with the basic model, Short marketed a number of 360 developments. First was the 360 Advanced, in late 1985, with 1,424 shp (1,062 kW) PT6A-65-AR engines. That was followed by the 360/300, in March 1987, with six-blade propellers, more powerful PT6A-67R engines, and aerodynamic improvements, giving a higher cruise speed and improved "hot and high" performance. The 360/300 was also built in 360/300F freighter configuration.
Operational history
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 330 antecedent, the 360s found a niche in regional airline use worldwide, being able to operate comfortably from 4,500 ft (1,400 m) runways – opening up hundreds of airfields that would otherwise be inaccessible to airliners. With a cruise speed about 215 mph (370 km/h), at an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,048 m), the unpressurized 360 was not the fastest turboprop in its market but it offered acceptable performance at a reasonable price combined with ease of service and maintainability.[3] The PT6A turboprops are fully ICAO Stage 3 noise-compliant, making the 360 one of the quietest turboprop aircraft operating today. Production of the 360 ceased in 1991 after 165 deliveries.[4] In 1998, approximately 110 360s were in service.[4] In 2009 a retired Emerald Airlines 360 was bought by Kingsland Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent, for use as a mobile classroom.[5]
Variants
- 360-100 - the first production model with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65R turboprop engines.[6]
- 360 Advanced - with PT6A-65AR engines rated at 1,424 shp (1,062 kW) each.[6] The aircraft was later redesignated 360-200. Introduced in late 1985.[6]
- 360-300 - with more powerful PT6A-67R engines with six-blade propellers. Higher cruise speed and improved performance.[6]
- 360-300F - the freighter version of the -300,[6] with capacity for five LD3 cargo containers.
- Short C-23 Sherpa B+ and C variants are military configured Short 360s operated by the United States military.[7]
Operators
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In 2013 there were a total of 12 Short 360 aircraft (all variants) in passenger service with Air Seychelles (1), Deraya Air Taxi (2), Pacific Coastal Airlines (2, stored out of service), Servicios Aéreos Profesionales (1), Tiara Air (2), Interisland Airways (1), La Costena (1), Comeravia (1) and Ayit Aviation and Tourism (1).[8]
Current and previous operators have included:
- TACA (SANSA)
- SAP Air Group
- Nightexpress
- Rheinland Air Service (RAS)
- TACA (INTER)
- TACA (ISLEÑA)[10]
- TACA (LA COSTENA)[12]
- TACA Aeroperlas
- Aero Vip
- Thai Airways[13]
- HD Air (formerly BAC Express)[14]
- British Regional Airways/Loganair[15]
- Manx Airlines
- Jersey European (now Flybe)[16]
- Gill Airways[17]
- US Airways
- American Eagle
- Air Cargo Carriers
- Federal Express[18]
- Gulfstream International Airlines
- Trans Executive Airlines
- Venezuelan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Venezolana)
Accidents and incidents
The Short 360 has been involved in 13 hull-loss accidents, resulting in the loss of 14 airframes.[19]
- 22 October 1985: A CAAC flight overran the runway while landing at Enshi Airport. There were no fatalities, but the airframe was written off.
- 31 January 1986: An Aer Lingus flight crashed on approach to East Midlands Airport, UK, due to airframe icing and turbulent conditions. There were no fatalities, but the airframe was written off.
- 13 December 1987: Philippine Airlines Flight 443 crashed into a 5000' mountain in the Philippines while approaching Iligan. All 15 people on board were killed.
- 28 November 1989: A newly-built aircraft, not yet delivered to a customer, was destroyed by a bomb on the apron at Belfast City Airport, Northern Ireland. The device had been planted by IRA terrorists. There were no fatalities.,
- 20 August 1990: A CCAir aircraft parked at Charlotte-Douglas Airport (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA) was blown by a wind gust into an electrical power cart, and a fire started. There were no fatalities, but the airframe was written off.
- 25 November 1997: An aircraft operated by Corporate Air landed heavily at Billings-Logan Airport (Billings, Montana, USA) in gusty wind conditions. The nosewheel strut collapsed, leading to a crash with the loss of the airframe. There were no fatalities.
- 9 February 1998: A British Regional Airlines aircraft landed heavily at Stornoway Airport In Scotland. The undercarriage was damaged leading to a crash with the loss of the airframe. There were no fatalities
- 13 January 2000: A Sirte Oil Company Short 360 crashed on approach near Brega; 22 of the 41 passengers and crew on board were killed.
- 4 February 2001: An Air Aran Short 360 crashed on approach to Sheffield City Airport, UK, after reverse thrust was selected while the aircraft was still airborne. There were no fatalities.
- 27 February 2001: Loganair Flight 670 crashed into the Firth of Forth in Scotland shortly after takeoff from Edinburgh Airport. Both engines failed after ingesting blowing snow while on the ground. Both pilots were killed (no others on board).
- 21 August 2004: A Venezuelan Air Force Short 360 crashed into a mountain while descending to land at Maracay, killing all 30 people on board.
- 16 December 2004: An Air Cargo Carriers aircraft was lost at Oshawa Municipal Airport. After landing on a snow-covered runway, the pilot attempted a go-around when he realized he would be unable to stop. The aircraft failed to gain altitude and crashed. There were no fatalities.
- 5 February 2006: Two Shorts 360 freighters operated by Air Cargo Carriers were flying in formation when they collided near Watertown, Wisconsin, US. One lost a wing section and crashed, killing the three occupants; The other aircraft remained under control but was damaged beyond repair during an emergency landing at an airport.
Specifications (360-300)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89[20]
General characteristics
- Crew: Three (Two pilots plus one cabin crew)
- Capacity: 36 passengers
- Length: 70 ft 9⅝ in (21.58 m)
- Wingspan: 74 ft 9½ in (22.80 m)
- Height: 23 ft 10¼ in (7.27 m)
- Wing area: 454 ft² (42.18 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 63A series (modified)
- Empty weight: 17,350 lb (7,870 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 27,100 lb (12,292 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R turboprop, 1,424 shp (1,062 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 280 mph (242 kn, 470 km/h) (at 18,000 ft/3,409 m)
- Cruise speed: 249 mph (216 kn, 400 km/h) at 22,000 ft (4,167 m)
- Stall speed: 85 mph (73 kn, 136 km/h) (flaps and landing gear down)
- Range: 732 mi (636 nmi, 1,178km)
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
- Rate of climb: 952 ft/min (4.7 m/s)
See also
- Related development
- Short Skyvan
- Short 330
- Short C-23 Sherpa
- Related lists
- List of airliners
References
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mondey 1981, p. 228.
- ↑ Simpson 2001, p. 495
- ↑ Smith 1986, p. 2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Short 360." Airliners.net. Retrieved: 9 August 2007.
- ↑ Narain, Jayra. "Fasten your seat belts, children, your new geography classroom has landed in the playground." Daily Mail, 31 March 2009. Retrieved: 18 May 2011.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Frawley 2003, p. 193.
- ↑ "Olive-Drab: C-23." olive-drab.com. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ Last Chance to Fly, 2012.
- ↑ "Freedom Air." freedomairguam.com. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "HR-IAP." biglobe.ne.jp. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "EI-BSP." airliners.net. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "La Costeña." airliners.net.
- ↑ "HS-TSE." biglobe.ne.jp. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "Fleet: G-CLAS," "G-EXPS," "G-TMRA" and "G-TMRB." hdair.com. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "G-BNMT." users.zetnet.co.uk. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ G-OBHD Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "G-BNYI." users.zetnet.co.uk. Retrieved: 18 August 2010.
- ↑ "About FedEx: FedEx Facts." FedEx. REtrieved: 18 May 2011.
- ↑ "Short 360: hull losses." aviation-safety.net. Retrieved; 24 April 2013.
- ↑ Taylor 1988, pp. 305–307.
Bibliography
- Barnes C.H. and Derek N. James.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. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd., 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
- Mondey, David. Encyclopedia of the World's Commercial and Private Aircraft. New York: Crescent Books, 1981. ISBN 0-517-36285-6.
- Simpson, Rod. Airlife's World Aircraft. London: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 2001. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data, 1988. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
- Smith, P.R. Shorts 330 and 360 (Air Portfolios 2). London: Jane's Publishing Company Limited, 1986. ISBN 0-7106-0425-4.
External links
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