Short Empire
Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1936 · airliner
The Short Empire was a four-engined monoplane flying boat built by Short Brothers in the 1930s to carry passengers and mail on the Empire air routes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 26.82 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Clean high-wing monoplane flying boat
- Four Bristol Pegasus radials in wing nacelles
- Wing leading edge beside each nacelle folds down as an engine servicing platform
A large flying boat with a high wing and four radial engines in wing nacelles.
Specifications
- The Short Empire has a length of 26.82 m (88 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 34.75 m (114 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 322 km/h (200 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Arthur Gouge to Imperial Airways requirements, it was developed in parallel with the Sunderland. The first flight was on 3 July 1936 and the first revenue flight was on 6 February 1937.
Variants
The first three aircraft of the additional order were of the S.23 class for Qantas Empire Airways; the rest had detail changes and were designated S.30. In 1941 two Empires were fitted with gun turrets and bomb racks.
Where you'll see it
Imperial Airways, BOAC, Qantas and TEAL operated it between Britain and Australia, Africa and Asia. The RAF, RAAF and RNZAF also used it. 42 were built, and it retired in 1946 to 1947.
Related aircraft
- Short S.20 Mercury
- Short S.22 Scion Senior
- Short Sunderland
- Short L.17 Scylla
- Bloch MB.220
- Blohm & Voss Ha 139
- Bréguet 470 Fulgur
- CANT Z.506A
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