Dominion Skytrader 800
Dominion Aircraft Corporation · United States · first flew 1975 · transport aircraft
The Shorts Skytrader was a British twin-turboprop STOL utility transport developed in the 1970s for operations from short, unprepared airstrips, targeting remote and developing-world markets.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin turboprop with slab-sided fuselage and rear loading ramp |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1970s STOL utility transport with high-mounted straight wing
- Twin turboprop with slab-sided fuselage and rear loading ramp
- Designed for rough short airstrips in remote regions
Distinguished by its rectangular-section fuselage of almost constant width and height, high-mounted straight wing, and twin turboprops — very similar in outline to the Shorts Skyvan.
Specifications
- The Dominion Skytrader 800 has a length of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.76 m (55 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 338 km/h (210 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Short Brothers of Belfast as a follow-on to their Skyvan utility transport, the Skytrader first flew in 1975. It retained the Skyvan's distinctive square-section fuselage but added more powerful engines for improved performance.
Variants
The Skytrader was offered in cargo and passenger configurations; it did not achieve the commercial success of the Skyvan and production remained limited.
Where you'll see it
The Skytrader saw limited sales to civilian operators and some military and parastatal customers needing STOL capability; it was not a major commercial success.
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