Short S.8 Calcutta
Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1928 · airliner
The Short S.8 Calcutta was a British three-engine biplane flying boat operated by Imperial Airways on the Cairo–Karachi leg of the Empire route in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 20.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1920s British three-engine flying boat airliner
- High parasol wing with three Jupiter radials
- Biplane tail surfaces and boat hull below waterline
Three radial engines in a high parasol wing above a flying-boat hull, with biplane tail empennage. The combination of boat hull, three-engine layout, and biplane tail is unique to the Calcutta/Rangoon family.
Specifications
- The Short S.8 Calcutta has a length of 20.35 m (67 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 28.35 m (93 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 190 km/h (118 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1928, the Calcutta entered service with Imperial Airways in 1928 on Mediterranean and Indian routes. Five aircraft were built and served reliably for several years before being replaced by more advanced flying boats.
Variants
A militarised version, the Short Rangoon, was produced for the RAF and served in the Middle East.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Imperial Airways and the RAF's No. 203 Squadron in the Middle East during the early 1930s.
Related aircraft
- Short S.8 Rangoon
- Short P.5 Kingston
- Short L.17 Scylla
- Short S.20 Mercury
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- Dornier Do X
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