proli c user of Shorts aircraft, with a eet of
ve 330s and three
that the aircraft was in service with 11
out of the top 50 commuter carriers in
the US. Within two years, the number of
commuter-type aircraft in use there had
slowly increased to around 90, with 54 of
them being 330s. A typical US owner was
Suburban Airlines, which in July 1983 was
running the Allegheny Commuter franchise
on behalf of Allegheny Airlines, with a eet
consisting of ve 330s, a single 360 and a
Twin Otter.
Many of the stages own were very short,
the average being around 81 miles, but somewere just 55 to 60 miles. The 330s were
primarily used on these short hops, while the
360s were used on the longer routes between
Philadelphia, Newark and New London/Groton.
Turn-round times were scheduled at 10-25
minutes, and both Shorts types could break
even nancially with around 12 passengers.
A steady stream of orders from all around the
world kept the 330 production line busy, and
the type gained a reputation as a reliable and
economical aircraft, being developed into the
Series 200 by the installation of more powerful
PT6A-45R engines.
In September 1982 Shorts announced
a military version of the 330, to be known
as the 330 Utility Tactical Transport (UTT)
which had a large cargo door on the left
side of the forward fuselage plus two inward
opening paratroop doors towards the rear.
This variant could transport up to 33 troops,
15 stretcher cases or 26 combat-equipped
paratroopers.
There was also a freighter variant, the
Sherpa. This featured a strengthened cabin
oor with lashing points for cargo. It had the
same large forward cargo door as the UTT
plus a hydraulically-operated loading ramp
at the rear.Both of these models were intended for
use in a wide range of military roles. The
UTT sold in small numbers, with two going
to the Royal Thai Army, two to the Royal
Thai Police and one to the Royal Thai Navy,plus a few others to various military and civil
users, but the Sherpa did better, gaining
important orders from the US armed forces.
The USAF had announced a
requirement for an aircraft to providespares transportation within its European
Distribution System (EDS). The cabin
could accommodate two small vehicles or
four LD3 containers. Eighteen examples
were ordered as the C-23A for use by the
10th Military Aircraft Squadron, stationed at
Zweibrücken, West Germany. The £110m
value of this order also covered ten years’
worth of logistics and servicing support, with
around 70 Shorts personnel to be based
at Zweibrücken for this purpose. Shorts
330 Series 200 G-BKMW was converted
to Sherpa con guration for trials, and the
prototype C-23A Sherpa made its rst ight
on August 6, 1984.
The type became the rst British-built
aircraft to enter service with the USAF
since World War Two. The Sherpas
performed successfully in their role of
shuttling spares and support personnel
between the USAF bases in Europe, and
the US Army also placed an order for ten
aircraft (later increased to 16) for use by
National Guard units as the C-23B. Four
330s were also acquired by the US Army
for communications and freighter duties at
the Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall
Islands in the Paci c. These were converted22 Aviation News incorporating Jets March 2017the average being around 81 miles, but somewere just 55 to 60 miles. The 330s were Both of these models were intended for spares transportation within its European‘The type was to
become the fi rst
British-built aircraft
to enter service
with the USAF since
World War Two.’
Above: Air Exports Shorts 330 EI-EXP was
acquired in 1993 for cargo charters. After the
airline changed its name to Ireland Airways,
this aircraft was used to launch Dublin-
Donegal passenger services on August 16,- Key Collection
Left: Sherpa demonstrator aircraft G-BKMW
was converted from a 330-200 in 1988 and
served with Shorts until its withdrawal in
November 1996. Key Collection
Below: Forty- ve C-23Bs and C-23B+ Sherpas
were delivered to the US Army. This example,
C-23B 88-1863, was allocated to the Connecticut
National Guard. Key Collection20-24_shortsDC.mfDCDC.mf.indd 22 03/02/2017 15:06