Short Shetland
Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1944 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Short Shetland was a British long-range, four-engined flying boat built by Short Brothers at Rochester for the Second World War. It was designed to Air Ministry Specification R.14/40.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 33.53 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large four-engined high-wing flying boat
- Stabilising floats mounted under the wings
- Four Bristol Centaurus radial engines
It was the first aircraft designed with a 110 volt electrical system. Testing showed the stabilising floats were mounted too low for a maximum-load takeoff.
Specifications
- The Short Shetland has a length of 33.53 m (110 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 45.82 m (150 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 423 km/h (263 mph).
- Typical crew: 11.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Saunders-Roe performed the detailed design and built the wing, while Shorts built the hull and tail and did the final assembly. The first prototype flew on 14 December 1944.
Variants
The Shetland I was the first prototype, flown as an unarmed transport. The Shetland II was completed as a civil transport and made its first flight on 17 September 1947.
Where you'll see it
The end of the war prevented production. The first prototype burnt out at its moorings in January 1946, and the Shetland II was scrapped in 1951 without orders.
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