Short S.17 Kent
Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1931 · airliner
The Short S.17 Kent was a British four-engined biplane luxury flying boat airliner, designed and built by Shorts to meet a requirement from Imperial Airways for an aircraft with greater range than the Short Calcutta.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 23.77 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-engined biplane flying boat
- Large boat hull with wings above and below
- Wingspan of about 34 m
Look for a large four-engined biplane flying boat with a deep hull and engines between the wings.
Specifications
- The Short S.17 Kent has a length of 23.77 m (78 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 34.44 m (113 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 220 km/h (137 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was meant to fly the stage from Mirabella, Crete, to Alexandria in Egypt without refuelling in Italian colonial territory. It first flew on 24 February 1931.
Variants
The Short Scylla was a variant.
Where you'll see it
Three were built, named Scipio, Sylvanus and Satyrus, and operated by Imperial Airways until 1938. Each had a crew of three and a steward, and carried 15 or 16 passengers.
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