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Short C-23 Sherpa

C-23 Sherpa

Picture - A C-23A Sherpa over then West Germany in 1985

Role: Transport aircraft
National origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Short Brothers
First flight: 23 December 1982
Introduced: 1985
Primary users: United States Army United States Air Force
Developed from: Short 330, Short 360

The Short C-23 Sherpa is a small military transport aircraft built by Short Brothers. The C-23A and C-23B variants are variants of the Short 330 and the C-23B+ and C-23C are variants of the Short 360.

Design and development

The Short 330 was developed by Short Brothers of Belfast from Short's earlier Short Skyvan STOL utility transport. The 330 had a longer wingspan and fuselage than the Skyvan, while retaining the Skyvan's square shaped fuselage cross section, allowing it to carry up to 30 passengers while retaining good short field characteristics. The 330 entered commercial service in 1976.

Picture - The first C-23A for U.S. Air Force during its official rollout ceremony

In addition to the passenger aircraft, Shorts also planned two freight versions. The first of these, the Short 330-UTT (for Utility Tactical Transport) was a military transport version fitted with a strengthened cabin floor, and paratroop doors, which was sold in small numbers, primarily to Thailand, who purchased four. The Short Sherpa (not to be confused with the earlier Short SB.4 Sherpa experimental aircraft) was a freighter fitted with a full width rear cargo door/ramp. This version first flew on 23 December 1982, with the first order for 18 aircraft being placed by the United States Air Force in March 1983. These aircraft were assigned to Military Airlift Command (MAC) for the European Distribution System Aircraft (EDSA) role, flying cargo and personnel between US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) air bases.

In U.S. military service, the Short 330 was designated the C-23A Sherpa. The C-23B Sherpa was similar to the C-23A, but with cabin windows. The C-23B+ and C-23C Short 360 derivatives were created by replacing the rear fuselage of Short 360s obtained on the second-hand market with the twin tail and rear loading ramp of the Short Sherpa.

The C-23 was produced at the Short Brothers' facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the U.S. Dept. of Defense.

Operational history

Picture - A C-23A Sherpa in front of Hohenzollern Castle in the Black Forest in 1984.

The C-23A Sherpa entered USAF service in 1985 and continuing in use in the EDSA role until 1990, when the EDSA role was disbanded. Six aircraft were passed to the United States Army, where they were used to support the Army National Guard, joining 10 new build C-23B Sherpa aircraft. Other variants are C-23B+ and C-23C. The C-23 replaced the UV-18 Twin Otter in U.S. service. The C-23 is the only cargo plane operated by the U.S Army.

During Iraq War, 2003-present, the C-23 has served the Army's intra-theater needs of cargo and personnel transport. It provides an economic alternative for transporting some 20 people or 3 pallets of cargo when speed is not critical.

Picture - A C-23B Sherpa

On 13 June 2007, the Alenia C-27J was selected to replace the C-23 in US Army service. A total of 43 C-23s were in service with the US Army as of November 2008.

Variants

C-23A Sherpa Twin-engined transport aircraft for the US Air Force, fitted with a strengthened cabin floor with a roller conveyor system, plus a forward cargo door on the port side of the fuselage, equipped with a hydraulically operated full-width rear cargo door/ramp; 18 built. C-23B Sherpa Twin-engined transport aircraft for the US Army National Guard, similar to the C-23A, but fitted cabin windows; 16 built. C-23B+/C Super Sherpa Short 360 aircraft purchased as second-hand aircraft by the US Army and modified by The West Virginia Air Center (WVAC) by the replacement of the rear fuselage of the Short 360, with its single tall fin, with the twin tail and rear loading ramp of the Short Sherpa.

Operators

Picture - A C-23B Sherpa in Iraq, 2004.

United States

United States Air Force
United States Army
Army National Guard

Specifications

C-23A

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988-1989

General characteristics

Crew: Three (Two pilots plus one cabin crew)
Capacity: 30 passengers
Length: 58 ft 0 in (17.69 m)
Wingspan: 74 ft 9 in (22.78 m)
Height: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
Wing area: 453 ft² (42.1 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 63 series, modified
Empty weight: 14,200 lb (6,440 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 22,900 lb (10,387 kg)
Powerplant: 2x— Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45-R turboprops, 1,198 hp (894 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 218 mph (190 knots, 352 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Cruise speed: 184 mph (160 knots, 296 km/h)
Stall speed: 85 mph (73 knots, 136 km/h) with flaps and landing gear down
Range: 770 mi (915 nm, 1,239 km) passenger version, 1,966 kg payload with no reserves
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,500 m)
Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (60 m/s)
Wing loading: 50.6 lb/ft² (247 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.052 hp/lb (170 W/kg)

C-23B/C

Picture - A C-23A with an aircraft engine being unloaded.

Data from U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947

General characteristics

Crew: Three (Two pilots plus one flight engineer)
Capacity: 18-20 passengers
Length: 58 ft 0 in (17.7 m)
Wingspan: 74 ft 10 in (22.8 m)
Height: 16 ft 5 in (5.0 m)
Wing area: 456 ft² (42.4 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 63 series, modified
Empty weight: 16,040 lb (7,276 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 25,600 lb (11,610 kg)
Powerplant: 2x— Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR turboprop, 1,424 shp (1,062 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 276 mph (196 knots, 444 km/h)
Cruise speed: 223 mph (190 knots, 359 km/h)
Range: 1,185 mi (1,030 nmi, 1,907 km)
Service ceiling: 13,950 ft (4,252 m)

Related development

Short 330
Short 360

Comparable aircraft

Aeritalia G.222
CASA CN-235

Short C-23 Sherpa Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia