View Full Version : Shorts 360 Cargo
Can someone tell me the uplift of cargo on the 'shed' or 'greenhouse' as I am told that Emerald have a daily from SEN. What happened to the large number of these a/c that were delivered to the US Army many years ago.
Tiger_mate
5th Mar 2006, 08:00
Are you sure you mean the 360?
The 330 is known as a C23 Sherpa in US military service.
http://www.aeroknow.com/images/c23-2w.jpg
The USAF ordered 18 of the 330-UTT and used it as the European Distribution System Aircraft (EDSA) under the designation of C-23A Sherpa. When the EDSA program ended on October 1991, the C-23A’s were distributed over the USAF flight Test Center, US Army and US Forestry Services. Later Sherpa additions to the US military services received the designations C-23B and C-23C. At least one US Army Sherpa was converted for electronic warfare (JC-23A) and used in the Gulf war.
Weights
330100 - Empty equipped in airliner configuration 6577kg (14,500lb), max takeoff 10,160kg (22,400lb). 330200 - Operating empty 6697kg (14,764lb), max takeoff 10,387kg (22,900lb).
Dimensions
Wing span 22.76m (74ft 8in), length 17.69m (58ft 1in), height 4.95m (16ft 3in). Wing area 42.1m2 (453.0sq ft).
Capacity
Flightcrew of two. Typical passenger accommodation for 30 at three abreast and 76cm (30in) pitch in 10 rows of seats. In combi freight/passenger configuration the 330 houses freight in the front of the cabin and 18 passengers in the rear.
surely not
7th Mar 2006, 09:12
Not checked my facts before posting, which is dangerous, but didn't the USAF have to buy some 360 airframes and convert them back to twin fin configuration because of the shortage of available 330's for conversion?
Tiger_mate
7th Mar 2006, 16:02
At least one ex- Maersk Air SD360 was retrospectively converted to 330 status. It would appear that the Sherpa is now the mount of many US Air National Guard under US Army colours, and one or two have been seen in Iraq.
http://photos.airliners.net/photos/middle/9/1/6/1009619.jpg
I suspect, but dont know for sure, that the little bulbous fairings under the nose and on the fin are Missile Warners, which would suggest that this is a candidate for Gulf service.
The Venezualan (sp?) AF operates ex civvy 360s in camouflage.
The Venez two were prepared at Southend earlier this year, I imagine it wouldhave been aslow journey home. Thanks for the replies.
windriver
8th Mar 2006, 22:42
"convert them back to twin fin configuration?"
What is the operational reason for converting to twin fin? Is there a cargo door/ramp at the back for example....
Tiger_mate
9th Mar 2006, 07:26
"convert them back to twin fin configuration?"
What is the operational reason for converting to twin fin? Is there a cargo door/ramp at the back for example....
Yes, though the ramp would have been major surgery, but to do so would have been the only logical explanation for such an expensive modification. I am surprised in many ways that they didnt simply keep the 360 configuration for pax and small friegt flights, or indeed the Electronics Warfare mod that appears to exist.
Mr_Grubby
9th Mar 2006, 08:13
I had a look around a US Mil Sherpa at Farnbourgh a few years back.
Seem to remember the pilot telling me that they were not fitted with any auto pilot and had to be flown manually everywhere.
Was this true ? It must have been a real drag if so.
Clint.
SlippingRight
9th Mar 2006, 10:36
Just read in FI that the US are looking at replacing the C23s with Spartans or similar and having the USAF share them with the Army. Sounds like they've been used in Iraq fro internal support movements.
ATR42300
12th Mar 2006, 18:27
If I remember rightly the 360 100 & 200 series had an MTOW of 11999 kgs the 300 srs was 12232kgs and yes most had thewir auropilots removed to allow extra freight to be carried but if an autopilot was servicable they were cleared for Cat 2 operations.
Say again s l o w l y
12th Mar 2006, 21:49
Ours weren't! But then again if you had the luxury of an autopilot, 9 times out of 10 it was U/S in the first place!
The max load you could generally carry in a 360 (1&200's) was approx 3500kg's. It didn't give you a lot of fuel though.
windriver
13th Mar 2006, 09:50
Ours (300's) were CAT2 and very good it was too.. ripping this system out is vanadalism:{ I wonder how much extra cargo this would be worth. I`d hazard a guess it's as much to do with maintenance and certification as additional payload.
Having said that hand flying wasn`t a big deal except that being unpressurised you spend more time IMC bumping around.
TwoDeadDogs
15th Mar 2006, 10:24
Hi all
If the top graduates of every annual class from the USAF Academy get to pick prestigious fighters or global transport aircraft to fly, do they post the lesser beings to fly the "Shed"?:} I don't imagine anyone brags about being a Sherpa "jock"!
regards
TDD
windriver
15th Mar 2006, 13:49
Hi all
I don't imagine anyone brags about being a Sherpa "jock"!
TDD
Maybe it's not the most glamourous aircraft ever built... but variety is the spice of life and in my experience the best times and memories are not so much about the aircraft type but job satisfaction, the operating environment and people with whom you are sharing the experience...
The Shed or whatever people call it is still a useful bit of kit.. (sorry I mean asset)
TwoDeadDogs
16th Mar 2006, 11:03
Hi Windy et al,
I would dearly love to fly a Shed or any other turbo for a living,so if you have a seat in one to spare, let me know! Still, you have to admit, stepping out/in to/of something beginning with "F" has a bit more glory attached.
regards
TDD;)
boredcounter
19th Mar 2006, 01:24
That'll be an F27 than? ;)
To take the thread full circle, I believe this was the first SEN based 360 freighter, actually at SEN, though it flew blue rinses to the Channel Islands in daylight.
Believe she than also flew for Maersk in its later life. If it was modded to twin fin and my career follows it again, Bored's gonna be a GI, bu**er :sad:
That said, if this beast did end up as a Sherpa, just what did the chap who first registered it know about it's future?
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/GImages/G-OCIA001.jpg
Bored
HZ123
19th Mar 2006, 14:51
Well you will be pleased to know that once again there is a 360 based at SEN cargoing three to four days a week to a number of locations. plenty of life in these a/c yet.
boredcounter
20th Mar 2006, 01:57
Who's is it mate?
Bored
HZ123
21st Mar 2006, 12:22
G-SSSW It this with Emerald