Short C-23 Sherpa

Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1982 · transport aircraft

The Short C-23 Sherpa is a military cargo aircraft derived from the Short 330 commuter airliner, adopted by the US Army National Guard for inter-theatre logistic support. Its distinctive square fuselage and full rear cargo doors make it immediately recognisable.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Boxy square-section fuselage with full-width rear clamshell cargo doors
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Boxy square-section fuselage with full-width rear clamshell cargo doors
High-wing twin turboprop derived from the Short 330 commuter aircraft
US Army standard inter-theatre cargo transport in the 1980s and 1990s

Unmistakable boxy rectangular fuselage cross-section, twin-boom-style twin turboprops on high straight wings, fixed undercarriage with large sponsons, and full-width rear cargo ramp.

Specifications

The Short C-23 Sherpa has a length of 17.69 m (58 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.76 m (75 ft).
Its maximum speed is 353 km/h (219 mph).
Typical crew: 2 + cargo.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The US Army selected the Short 330-derived Sherpa in 1982 to replace aging Caribou and CV-2 aircraft in the inter-theatre logistic support role. The C-23A entered service with the Army National Guard in 1984, followed by the more capable C-23B and C-23B+ with more powerful engines and greater payload. It proved well suited for moving spare parts and small cargo between airfields.

Variants

The C-23A was the initial variant; the C-23B introduced uprated PT6A-65R engines; the C-23B+ featured additional improvements and could carry passengers or cargo.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the US Army National Guard from the mid-1980s onward; used in support roles during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for intra-theatre logistics.

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