Short P.5 Kingston
Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1924 · transport aircraft
The Short P.5 Kingston was a large British trimotor flying boat of the mid-1920s designed for long-range passenger and mail services on the Empire routes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- large parasol-wing biplane flying boat
- three engines
- open cockpit ahead of hull bow
A large biplane flying boat with a broad parasol upper wing and two engines set in the interplane strut region, plus a nose engine; the three-engine arrangement and angular lower hull profile are distinctive among British interwar flying boats.
Specifications
- The Short P.5 Kingston has a length of 16.8 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 29.9 m (98 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 169 km/h (105 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built to an Air Ministry specification, the Kingston was one of Short Brothers' early large commercial flying boats, intended for use by Imperial Airways on its developing route network. Only three were built, and they served briefly before being superseded by more capable types.
Variants
Three aircraft were completed; no significant production variants.
Where you'll see it
Operated briefly by Imperial Airways on Mediterranean and Red Sea routes in the mid-1920s.
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- Short S.8 Calcutta
- Short S.8 Rangoon
- Short Type 184
- Short L.17 Scylla
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- Naval Aircraft Factory PN-7
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