The 360 pedigree went back to the SC7 Skyvan, as everyone knows, but fewer know that the first step after the Skyvan was the Skyliner; exactly the same airframe and engine (TPE331) as a Skyvan, but the large upwards rear door was replaced by a door in the side, and it was intended for 19 passengers only. We had one in the Gulf, in the '70s, but I don't know if there were any others, or indeed what happened to ours.
I think the 330 was the next step, followed by the 360.
Something else that people don't know is that the Skyvan could outperform a Twin Otter on STOL any day of the week, payload for payload, with the greatest of ease. And that's at the military MTOW 13,500 lbs that the aircraft was designed for, as operated by SOAF, as I recall, among others. Civil regs allowed only 12,500 lbs. Leaving Saiq, 6,500 ft elev., in a SOAF Skyvan, with a good load, was always exciting.
Last edited by old,not bold; 20th Dec 2015 at 17:19.