Shorts 360 in Australia

Maikha Ly · #1 13th March 2010, 07:39 PM

Hi all

I note a number of Short 360 aircraft operating for various regional airlines in Oz, as recent as 2005 with Sunshine Express, and I'd like to know if there are any other Shorts 360 aircraft operating in Australia still, plainly for my own curiousity.

Many thanks
Maikha

Grahame Hutchison · #2 13th March 2010, 09:50 PM

Hi Maikha,

I can't find any Short 360s on the Australian Register, but there is still one 330 listed.

http://www.16right.com/GetRegoNew.php?Mark=KNO

I did a Brisbane to Maroochydore sector on a 360, a great flight and nice big windows from memory.

Zac M · #3 13th March 2010, 10:18 PM

I don't think it's in flying condition...
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untit...2f275776c16306

Matt_L · #4 13th March 2010, 10:55 PM

Correct me if im wrong guys and Grahame would probably know more then me on this but i could swear i saw it a few years back at YSBK.. around near the tower

Danny Rizk · #5 14th March 2010, 12:19 AM

You mean the aircraft that was used for skydiving?

Robert Zweck · #6 14th March 2010, 04:24 AM

The Shorts VH-KNO is still at Alice Springs as depicted in the Airliners.net photo

Craig Murray · #7 14th March 2010, 07:11 AM

The aircraft regularly seen at Bankstown (near the Tower) are Shorts Skyvans operated by the Sydney Skydiving Centre at Wilton.

Grahame Hutchison · #8 14th March 2010, 07:29 AM

There are still 3 Short Bros SC7-3 VARIANT 100 Skyvans on the Australian Register.

VH-WGT was still flying in May 2009.
VH-IBO has been out at Bankstown.
VH-IBS has been out at Bankstown.

Maikha Ly · #9 14th March 2010, 10:19 PM

Grahame and all

Thanks for your responses, much appreciated... carry on!

Grahame Hutchison · #10 21st March 2010, 10:28 AM

I had planned a flight out to Bathurst this morning, but had to cancel at the last minute because of a U/S Transponder in the aircraft. Having noticed the Shorts Skyvan parked over near the Tower everytime I fly in and out of Bankstown, I thought I would go and have a closer look this morning. Hardly a thing of beauty from any angle, close up, or from afar, it could best be described as "utility". The condition of the aircraft is fairly poor, and it would take a lot of work to get it back to anywhere near flying condition. By the look of the cockpit door, one operational requirement must have been tall thin pilots. The shape of the aircraft does not suggest "performance" at all, however it looks like you could fit quite a few skydivers on board.

VH-IBO SC7-3 VARIANT 100
Powerplants Garret TPE 331-2-201A (single shaft)
Stallspeed @ 8500lbs and Flaps 50 is as low as 49Kts
MTOW of 12.500lbs

From Diverdriver.com :-
"Coordinated flying is extremely important as the huge sidearea of the "Shed" will produce tremendous ammounts of drag with any slip or skid."

"Now that the jumpers are standing up in the airplane you need to worry again about your C/G! Maximum number of people in the door should be 11 Jumpers! This number is already pretty uncomfortable as you will be very close to the forward stop of control collumn travel. Generally you can say as many people as in the door should be behind the mid cabin for ballance reason. This requires a bit of briefing for larger RW exits. To get anything bigger than a 10 way out of the door at once you need the ones further back in the plane start towards the door at SET, so that they all leave the plane at GO, without making the plane uncontrollable."

An interesting read http://www.diverdriver.com/Aircraft/Skyvan/skyvan.htm