Short C-23 Sherpa

The decision for this aircraft was made in 1983. The aircraft was to be specifically designed to supply USAF air bases in Europe where there were around 300 aircraft at the time. From the outset, the idea was not to develop a new aircraft but to modify an existing light transport aircraft. In solving this problem, 62 aircraft were considered and the cost of the conversion was not to be more than EUR 2 million. USD 2,000 per unit.


From the seven aircraft, two candidates were finally selected. The British Shorts 330 and the Spanish CASA C-12 Aviocar. In March 1984, the Shorts 330 was finally selected. A contract for 165 million was signed. USD and the delivery of 16 modified aircraft along with ten years of service.
The aircraft is based on the Shorts 330 civil regional transport aircraft. The first unit was manufactured in 1974 by Shorts Aviation of Belfast. The USAF assigned the aircraft the designation Short C-23A and the name Sherpa. About 60 modifications distinguish the aircraft from the original civilian model. The radio-electric equipment was changed and expanded, the volume of the fuel tanks was increased, and oxygen production equipment was installed. The crew compartment was changed, which was enlarged to include space for both the on-board mechanic and the navigator. The floor of the cargo hold cabin was retrofitted with a mechanism to facilitate cargo handling, especially containers. The USAF took delivery of the first machines in November 1984 and the last was delivered in December 1985.

Service in Europe

The aircraft were in service in Europe between 1984 and 1990. They were part of the USAF's 10th Transport Squadron at Zweibrücken Air Base, where there were a total of 18 aircraft. The C-23A aircraft's main task was the daily provision of material to air bases under the European Distribution System Aircraft (EDSA) program. This was mainly the transport of small-scale cargo (mainly spare parts) for which it was not efficient to use C-130 Hercules or C-141 Starlifter aircraft. However, the end of the Cold War meant a gradual reduction in the numbers of US forces in Europe, and so the need for the EDSA program passed, and it was cancelled. In 1990, all aircraft were relocated to the US and the 10th Squadron was inactivated.


Service in the USA

All aircraft were turned over to the US Forestry Service or the Army National Guard. Three were retained for some time by the Air Force with the 412th Airlift Wing at Edwards AFB, where they were used by the Test Pilot School. The National Guard also received tenť new C-23Bs, the result of a conversion of the Shorts 330-200 with more powerful engines and better passenger-carrying capability. This variant even met the U.S. Army's requirement for a short take off and landing (STOL) aircraft from unprepared runways. The National Guard ordered a total of 44 C-23Bs and C-23Cs (a later order) and still uses them to transport personnel, materiel, or airdrops, or for medical transport. The C-23C is an aircraft that was a conversion from the Shorts 360 civilian aircraft. There are currently 43 C-23B and C-23C aircraft deployed throughout the United States still in use by the National Guard. Outside of the United States, the aircraft are in use in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. However, these aircraft are also operating in Iraq as part of the Alaska National Guard with the 207th Aviation Battalion.

One aircraft crashed on U.S. soil on March 3, 2001. On board were a crew of three and 18 passengers, members of the Air National Guard. According to the results of the investigation, the accident was caused by a sudden deterioration in the weather and a severe thunderstorm. There were no survivors.


The replacement of the C-23 aircraft with a new type is already under consideration. Lockheed Martin / Alenia C-27J, EADS CASA CN-235 and C-295 are being considered as prospective candidates.

Aircraft description

The Shorts C-23 is a transport biplane with twin keel surfaces and rudders. The aircraft has a three-wheel nose landing gear, the front landing gear wheel is steerable and adjustable. The main landing gear wheels are only partially engaged in the nacelles. The wing is straight, all-metal, supported by two spars resting on the nacelles of the main landing gear. The wing profile is NACA 63A. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whittney Canada T101-CP-100 PT6A-45R (C-23A type) or Pratt & Whittney Canada T101-CP-100 PT6A-65AR (C-23B and C-23C) engines with Hartzell 5 auto-adjusting 2.82 m diameter propellers. The aircraft can carry up to 2,183 litres of fuel in two fuel tanks. The aircraft is equipped with radios for operation in HF and UHF frequencies, inertial navigation system, TACAN (Tactical air navigation) system, radio altimeter and meteorological radar.
Underľa modification some side windows are removed. For the C-23A, only the first two windows were retained. The loading ramp has been adapted for military use and is hydraulically operated. The entire cabin is air-conditioned with the possibility of installing a toilet. It can carry up to 30 people, or 18 lying on stretchers with a two-man medical team, or a load with a maximum weight of 3221 kg. The interior of the cabin is adapted for the transport of standard LD-3 (max. 4 pcs.) and CO-8 (max. 7 pcs.) containers. However, it is also possible to transport a combination of smaller number of containers and passengers (e.g. 2 pcs. of LD-3 containers and nine passengers) without any problems. Other loads can also be transportedť e.g. up to two small off-road vehicles or air power units such as J79 or larger F100 jet engines.

Sources:
1. ATM Magazine - Armies, Technology, Militaria, ed: Magnet Press Slovakia spol. s r. o. and Aeromedia a. s., issue: 10/2006, pages: 16-18
2. Internet: www .fas. org, www .theaviationzone. com