The Short SC.7 Skyvan (nicknamed the "Flying Shoebox") is a British 19-seat twin-turboprop aircraft first flown in 1963, that was manufactured by Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Featuring a basic rugged design and STOL capabilities, it was used in small numbers by airlines, and also by some smaller air forces. In more recent years the remaining examples were mostly used for short-haul freight and skydiving.
In 1958, Short was approached by F.G. Miles Ltd (successor company to Miles Aircraft) which was seeking backing to produce a development of the Hurel-Dubois Miles HDM.106 Caravan design with a high aspect ratio wing similar to that of the Hurel-Dubois HD.31. Short acquired the design and data gathered from trials of the Miles Aerovan based HDM.105 prototype. After evaluating the Miles proposal, Short rejected the Caravan. They developed their own design for a utility all-metal aircraft which was called the Short SC.7 Skyvan. The Skyvan is a twin-engined all-metal, high-wing monoplane, with a braced, high aspect ratio wing, and an unpressurised, square-section fuselage with twin fins and rudders. It was popular with freight operators compared to other small aircraft because of its large rear door for loading and unloading freight. Its fuselage resembles the shape of a railroad boxcar for simplicity and efficiency.
A Short Skyvan (centre) together with the two types developed from it, Short 360 (front) and Short 330 (rear) at 1982 Farnborough Airshow
Construction started at Sydenham Airport in 1960, and the first prototype first flew on 17 January 1963, powered by two Continental piston engines. Later in 1963, the prototype was re-engined with the intended TurbomecaAstazou II turboprop engines of 520shp (390kW); the second prototype (the first Series 2 Skyvan) was initially fitted with TurbomecaAstazou X turboprop engines of 666shp (497kW) but subsequently the initial production version was powered by TurbomecaAstazou XII turboprop engines of 690shp (510kW). In 1967, it was found that the Astazou XII was temperature limited at high altitudes. Consequently, in 1968, production switched to the Skyvan Series 3 aircraft, which replaced the Astazou engines with Garrett AiResearch TPE331 turboprops of 715shp (533kW). A total of 149 Skyvans (including the two prototypes) were produced before production ended in 1986.
Operational history
Skyvan 3 converted for survey work by Questor Surveys, 1975
Skyvans served widely in both military and civilian operations, and the type remained in service in 2009 with a number of civilian operators, and in military service in Guyana and Oman.
N192WW, a Skyvan operated as an air-to-air camera platform, over Arizona in 2023
Skyvans continue to be used in limited numbers for air-to-air photography and for skydiving operations. In 1970, Questor Surveys of Toronto Canada converted the first of two Skyvan 3s for aerial geological survey work. The Collier Mosquito Control District uses Skyvans for aerial spraying. NASA operated a single Skyvan at Wallops Island Flight Facility between 1979 and 1995, which was used to perform aerial recovery of parachute-borne payloads ejected from high-altitude balloons and sounding rockets.
Skyvan G-BEOL appeared in the film Kingsmen: The Secret Service as the aircraft trainee kingsmen skydived from. N194WW appeared in Season 1 Episode 4 of the TV show Narcos: Mexico.
TurbomecaAstazou powered production. 8 Series 2 produced (including the second prototype).
Skyvan 3
Garrett TPE331 powered production. 140 produced (of all Series 3 versions) plus 2 Series 2 were converted.
Skyvan 3A
higher gross weight version (MTOW 6,214kg, 13,700lb).
Skyvan 3M-100, -200, -400
military transport versions with higher gross weights; 3M-200 (MTOW 6,804kg, 15,000lb); 3M-400 as per Skyvan 3A. Used for supply dropping, assault transport, dropping paratroops, troop transport, cargo transport, casualty evacuation, plus search and rescue missions.
Skyliner 3A-100
deluxe all-passenger version, large cargo door removed, cabin accessed through standard size side door.
Royal Thai Police compound at Bangkok Don Mueang-DMK, October 2014. In view are three Shorts SC.7 Skyvans, a Shorts SD3-30, plus three PC 6 Turbo Porters, and a Fokker F-50
On 1 September 1972, a Short Skyvan crashed on northeastern slope of Mt Giluwe due to poor visibility. Four people died as result of the crash.
On 22 November 1976, a Gulf Air Short SC.7 Skyvan cargo plane travelling from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi-Al Bateen Airport experienced an engine failure. The crew abandoned the aircraft off Das Island. The two occupants were rescued while the airplane sank.
On 25August 1977, an Air Cargo Hawaii twin-turboprop Short SC.7 Skyvan crashed and burned while attempting to land at Keahole Airport. The pilot and passenger were killed. The crash occurred about 1.5mi (2.4km) short of the runway.
On 18 December 1980, two Malaysia Air Charter Shorts SC.7 Skyvan (9M-AQG and 9M-AXN) collided in a unknown circumstance in Bayan Lepas International Airport, both aircraft suffered a small damaged and continued to service beyond repair.
On 3 October 1986, an East Indonesia Air Taxi Shorts SC.7 Skyvan (registered PK-ESC) struck a mountain. All 10 passengers and 3 crew members were killed.
On 31 January 1993, a Short SC.7 Skyvan operated by Pan Malaysian Air Transport (9M-PID) carrying 16 passengers and crew members including the airline executive manager went missing above northern Sumatra while en route to Banda Aceh. The wreckage was found approximately 17 years later by the Indonesian police. No survivors were found.
On 30 July 1993, Shorts SC7 Skyvan 3-100 aircraft, carrying 17 passengers and two crew members, made an emergency landing at a football field at Long Loyang village when approaching the Marudi airport due to severe weather. One passenger died in the incident.
Specification (Skyvan 3)
Data fromJane's Civil and Military Upgrades 1994-95
↑The UAE is a federation of 7 Sheikdoms, each of which maintain a small army known as the Amiri Guard. One of which, the Emirate of Sharjah, purchased two Skyvan 3M's in the 1970's, and then sold them to the UAE air force in 1995.
↑Cooper, Tom; Grandolini, Albert (2018). Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 1: Air Warfare Over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p.47. ISBN978-1-912390-35-9.
↑Cooper, Tom (2017). Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 1: Aerial Warfare Over the South Arabian Peninsula, 1962-1994. Solihull, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p.42. ISBN978-1-912174-23-2.
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