Shorts Aircraft since 1900

From the first spherical balloons made by Eustace and Oswald Short, the author traces the brothers’ progress as engineers to the Aero Club till Wilbur Wright’s arrival in France in 1908 and their consequent changeover from balloons to aeroplanes – a decision endorsed by their eldest brother Horace, who joined them to set up the world’s first aircraft production line. Their rapid expansion as aircraft suppliers to the Royal Navy and their notable progress with deck-launching, folding wings, buoyancy bags and sprung floats led to enormous production of the famous Short Type 184 during World War I, in which period the firm also built rigid airships.

Oswald Short’s pioneering work with a successful series of metal hulled flying boats is described and their operational histories recorded.

Appendices list all shorts’ constructors’ numbers, serials and registration marks. The book contains specifications for all short types and variants, and complete lists to date of type designations and preliminary designs.

For this new edition, the section on unbuilt projects has been expanded and the post-1945 story of Rochester’s last days and Northern Ireland’s new industry has been carried down to the present. The Skyvan and Belfast chapters have been updated and the 330, Sherpa and 360 have been added to the aircraft coverage, as well as notes on the forthcoming Tucano.