Short C-23 Sherpa әскери көлік ұшағы

Military transport aircraft
the cargo aircraft

The Short C 23 Sherpa is a small military transport aircraft built by Short Brothers. It was designed to operate from unpaved runways and make short takeoff and landings (STOL). It features a large squared fuselage with a full width rear cargo door/ramp. The C 23A and C 23B are variants of the Short 330 and the C 23B+ is a variant of the Short 360. 60 aircraft were used it was finally retired from US service in 2014, but remains in international service. Although it was widely used for other uses it was originally the winner of an early 1980s competition for a light cargo aircraft to deliver cargo, especially aviation parts, for EDSA. While the C 23 was a new production, as was the C 23B, the C 23B+ were actually Shorts 360, with the tail and rear fuselage of a C 23. One of the differences between the C 23 and C 23B, is that the latter had cabin windows. The aircraft has a substantial amount of civilian use and also was operated by the U. S. Forestry Service and NASA for example. The NASA C 23 is still in service and used for research. The aircraft continues in service with the Philippines and Djibouti, as well as various civilian and governmental agencies, such as the aforementioned NASA research Sherpa. The Short C 23 Sherpa was part of family of small to mid sized twin turbo prop transport aircraft developed in the late 20th century, starting with Short Skyvan, Short 330, and the Short 360. The C 23 was based on the Short 330, and the C 23B+ was based on the Short 360. The original C 23 had very specific purpose, to resupply airfields in Western Europe during the Cold War and entered service in the 1980s. However, it went on afterwards to serve in many different roles.

The Short 330 was developed by Short Brothers of Belfast from their earlier Short SC.7 Skyvan STOL utility transport. The 330 has 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. In addition to the passenger aircraft, Shorts also planned two freight versions. The Short 330 UTT (for Utility Tactical Transport) was a military transport version fitted with a strengthened cabin floor and paratroop doors, 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 United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) air bases. The C 23 Sherpa was the winner of a competition to enhance cargo delivery in that theater. One of its competitors as that time was the CASA C.212 Aviocar. The C 23B+ Short 360 derivative was 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.

While the US Army does not operate many fixed wing aircraft besides the Sherpa (due to Key West Agreement), they lost a C 23B in 2001 in Georgia, USA, and 21 died. This was the worst peacetime aviation disaster of the U. S. National Guard. On 3 March 2001, a C 23B Sherpa belonging to the 171st Aviation Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard was carrying 18 construction workers of the Virginia Air National Guard from Hurlburt Field, Florida to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The pilot left the flight deck to use the aft bathroom. His weight in the tailcone shifted the center of gravity sufficiently that the airplane became unstable when a patch of severe turbulence was encountered. The violent g force shifts then encountered rendered the crew unconscious and caused the breakup of the aircraft in flight near Unadilla, Georgia, killing the 21 persons on board. Later calculations determined that the aircraft had been loaded outside its operating envelope at the start of the flight. The C 23 was retired from Army National Guard service in 2014, having served with distinction in such missions as disaster relief and transport, earning the distinction of being a "workhorse" aircraft.

Several surplus aircraft were sold to United States operators, who used them to transport equipment and crews to remote work sites. NASA operates one C 23 for atmospheric research from Wallops Flight Facility.