Short SC.7 Skyvan

Short SC.7 Skyvan
Myself (Adrian Pingstone). · Public domain · source
Name	Short SC.7 Skyvan
Caption	Short SC.7 Skyvan in service
Role	Utility transport
Manufacturer	Short Brothers
First flight	17 July 1963
Produced	1963–1980s
Numberbuilt	145

Short SC.7 Skyvan The Short SC.7 Skyvan is a British-built twin-turboprop utility transport developed by Short Brothers for short takeoff and landing operations, notable for its boxy fuselage and rear loading ramp. It served in civilian roles with airlines such as British European Airways and Air Anglia and in military and governmental air arms including the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. The type saw operation across continents, appearing in service with operators in Africa, Asia, and Oceania and participating in operations connected to events like the Biafran War and humanitarian missions near Dhaka and Bangui.

Development and Design

The design arose at Short Brothers in the early 1960s to meet requirements from companies like Autair and Dan-Air for a rugged freighter and commuter, evolving from studies influenced by aircraft such as the Fokker F27 Friendship and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. Chief designers at Short Brothers emphasized a high-mounted wing, boxy rectangular fuselage, and a rear cargo ramp to compete with transports like the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy and to provide capabilities akin to the Fairchild C-123 Provider. Powerplants were selected from Rolls-Royce and later Pratt & Whitney engines, with structural work overseen by engineers formerly associated with Handley Page and consultancy from firms linked to British European Airways. The Skyvan's robust undercarriage and low-speed handling made it suitable for operations from austere airstrips used by operators such as Airwork and Aero O/Y.

Operational History

Early commercial operations began with leasing companies and regional carriers including Dan-Air and Air Baska, with deployments to places like Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Falkland Islands territories for freight and parachute work. Military use included Royal Air Force duties with squadrons performing paratroop and parachute training alongside units from the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force for trials. Skyvans were contracted for humanitarian and relief missions linked to crises near Bangui and Lagos and supported operations during conflicts related to the Biafran War and various United Nations missions. Civilian skydiving clubs and agricultural aviation firms in United Kingdom, France, and Australia employed the type for parachute dropping and aerial topdressing, working alongside organizations like British Red Cross and regional postal services.

Variants

Several factory and customer conversions were produced, paralleling variants seen in contemporary transports like the Short Belfast and Short Skyvan 3. Early production models used Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops; later conversions fitted Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engines similar to modernizations made to types like the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. Military and civil modifications included passenger seating layouts, freighter cargo fittings, and skydiving doors analogous to adaptations used on Antonov An-12 conversions. Special mission variants were configured for electronic survey roles, aerial mapping akin to equipment on Hawker Siddeley Andover conversions, and VIP transport duties for governmental agencies such as those in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

Technical Specifications

The Skyvan featured a rectangular cross-section fuselage with a high wing and twin turboprop engines, a configuration shareable in concept with the Nord 262 and Fokker F27. Typical dimensions included a short fuselage length optimizing payload-to-weight ratio comparable to aircraft like the Short Skyvan contemporaries, a rear loading ramp for rapid cargo handling similar to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules on a much smaller scale, and a fixed tricycle undercarriage for rugged field operation akin to the Antonov An-24. Performance envelopes placed cruise speeds and range suitable for regional hops, with STOL capabilities used by operators in Papua New Guinea bush services and West African airfields near Accra and Kano.

Operators

Civil operators included regional carriers such as Dan-Air, Air Anglia, Autair, and various bush operators in Australia and Papua New Guinea; humanitarian and parachute operators included clubs and agencies like the British Parachute Association and local relief organizations. Military and governmental operators encompassed air arms including the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force for evaluation, and air forces of countries in Africa and Asia that used the type for transport, medevac, and parachute training. Charter and freight firms internationally operated aircraft for tasks similar to roles filled by the Short Belfast and other Shorts transports.

Accidents and Incidents

The type experienced incidents during operations from unprepared fields and during parachute operations, comparable in operational risk to other utility transports like the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou and Fairchild C-123 Provider. Accidents involved loss of control, hard landings on rough airstrips near locations such as Port Harcourt and Lae, and ground handling events during loading operations in busy hubs like Lagos and Sydney. Investigations were carried out by civil aviation authorities in affected states including United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and national agencies in Australia and various African nations, leading to operational advisories and maintenance updates.

Category:1960s British transport aircraft