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By
Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_360
The Short 360 (also SD3-60) is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.
Development
The Short 360 is a 36-seat derivative of the 30-33 seat Short 330. In high density configuration 39 could be seated. The two Short airliners share a high degree of commonality and are very close in overall dimensions and size. The later 360 is easily identified by a larger, swept tail unit mounted on a revised rear fuselage. The 360 has a 3 ft (91 cm) fuselage "plug" allowing two more seat rows and six extra passengers to be carried, while the extra length smoothed out the aerodynamic profile and reduced drag. Power is supplied by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65Rs, and the 360's wingspan is slightly greater. The development was announced in 1980, prototype first flight on 1 June 1981with type certification awarded on 3 September 1981.
Once in production, Short marketed a number of 360 developments, the first of which was the 360 Advanced with 1,424 shp (1,062 kW) PT6A-65-ARs. The 360 Advanced was introduced in late 1985, soon followed by the further improved 360/300, which entered service in March 1987. The 360/300 introduced advanced six-blade propellers, more powerful PT6A-67R engines which combined with other aerodynamic improvements, giving a higher cruise speed and improved "hot and high" performance. The 360/300 was also built in 360/300F freighter configuration. Total production was 164 aircraft.
Operational history
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Cabin interior of Manx Airlines Short 360 showing 'box' structure and two-and-one seating layout |
The Short 360 entered service with Suburban Airlines (later merged with Allegheny Airlines/US Airways) in November 1981. Building on the strengths and reputation of its earlier 330 antecedent, the 360s found a niche in regional airline use worldwide, being able to operate comfortably from 4,500 ft (1,400 m) long runways – opening up hundreds of airfields inaccessible by scheduled flights. With a cruise speed about 215 mph (370 km/h), at an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,048 m), the 360 was not the fastest turboprop in its market but it offered more than acceptable performance for a reasonably affordable pricetag combined with ease of service and maintainability. The PT6A turboprops are fully ICAO Stage 3 noise-compliant, making the 360 (and its 330 cousin) one of the quietest turboprop aircraft operating today. Production on the 360 ceased in 1991 after 165 deliveries. As of 1998, approximately 110 360s were in service.
Accidents
A total of 11 hull loss accidents have been recorded for the Short 360. (with one more probable in the wake of the recent Air Cargo Carriers incident).
Variants
- 360-100 was the first production model with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65R turboprop engines.
- 360 Advanced featured an upgraded PT6A-65AR engines providing 1,424 shaft horsepower (1,062 kilowatts) each. The aircraft was later redesignated 360-200. Variant was introduced in late 1985.
- 360-300 added even more powerful PT6A-67R engines with six blade propellers providing a higher cruise speed and improved performance.
- 360-300F was a freighter version of -300. with capacity for five LD3 cargo containers.
- C-23 Sherpa B+ and C variants are military configured Short 360s operated by the United States military.
Operators/Former Operators
In August 2006, a total of 86 Short 360 aircraft (all variants) were in airline service, with Air Seychelles (2), Deraya Air Taxi (2), Freedom Air (1), South Pacific Express (2), Air Contractors (3), Aerocondor (4), Aurigny Air Services (1), Benair (1), Emerald Airways (10), Nightexpress (2), Aeroperlas (8), Air Cargo Carriers (19), Air Santo Domingo (1), AirNow (3), Islena Airlines (3), Pacific Coastal Airlines (2), Roblex Aviation (7), Servicios Aereos Profesionales (1), Skyway Enterprises (8), Trans Air (1) and Trans Executive Airlines (4).
 Argentina
 Aruba
 Australia
 Canada
 China
 Costa Rica
 Guatemala
 Guernsey
 Honduras
 Ireland
 Nicaragua
 Panama
 Philippines
 Seychelles
 Thailand
 United Kingdom
 United States
 Venezuela
Specifications (360-100)
General characteristics
- Crew: Three (Two pilots plus one cabin crew)
- Capacity: 36 passengers
- Length: 70 ft 10 in (21.59 m)
- Wingspan: 74 ft 10 in (22.78 m)
- Height: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
- Wing area: 544 ft² (42.1 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 63 series (modified)
- Empty weight: 16,900 lb (6,440 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 26,000 lb (10,387 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 241 mph (210 kn, 388 km/h) (at 10,000 ft/3,048 m)
- Cruise speed: 194 mph (168 kn, 311 km/h)
- Stall speed: 85 mph (73 kn, 136 km/h) (flaps and landing gear down)
- Range: 770 mi (915 nmi, 1,239 km) (no reserves, passenger version, 1,966 kg payload)
- Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,877 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (60 m/s)
- Wing loading: 50.6 lb/ft² (247 kg/m²)
See also
Related development
Related lists
Bibliography
External links
Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Published in July 2009.
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