Short Brothers
Encyclopedia
Short Brothers plc is a British aerospace
company, usually referred to simply as Shorts, that is now based in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. Founded in 1908, Shorts was the first company in the world to make production aircraft and was a manufacturer of flying boat
s during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and Royal Air Force bombers throughout the Second World War. In the immediate post-war period it received orders for several military and experimental aircraft. From the 1960s Shorts turned primarily to the production of passenger aircraft for regional airlines, major components for aerospace prime manufacturers, and missiles for British armed forces. In 1989 the company was bought by Bombardier. Within Bombardier Aerospace, Shorts designs and manufactures nacelle
s, fuselage
s and aircraft flight control systems
. Shorts is the largest manufacturing concern in Northern Ireland. Today the company's products include aircraft components and engine nacelle
s for its parent company Bombardier Aerospace
, and for Boeing
, Rolls-Royce Deutschland
, General Electric
and Pratt & Whitney
.
filled balloon
. Their father had served his apprenticeship with Robert Stephenson
. In 1902 the two brothers started offering balloons for sale, winning a contract for three for the British Indian Army
in 1905. The balloons were manufactured by the brothers in premises above the acoustic laboratory run by a third brother, Horace (July 2, 1872– April 6, 1917), for Thomas Edison
's European agent, Col. Gouraud, in Hove, Sussex. When Horace left Hove in 1903 to work on steam turbine development with Charles Parsons, Eustace and Oswald moved their workshop to rented accommodation in two railway arches in Battersea
, southwest London, conveniently situated next to Battersea gas-works. In 1908 they were joined by Horace and in November 1908 they registered their partnership under the name Short Brothers. The Wright Brothers
contracted with the new company the British rights to build the Wright Flyer
; an initial order for six aircraft was taken, all of them taken up by members of the Aero Club
. Short Brothers became the first aircraft manufacturing company in the world.
In July 1909, Shorts created Shellbeach Aerodrome on unobstructed marshland next to Muswell Manor, (then known as "Mussel Manor" near Leysdown-on-Sea
on the Isle of Sheppey
in the Thames Estuary
,which had recently been purchased by Frank McClean for the use of the Aero Club (which was granted the "Royal" prefix in the same year).
In 1910 they moved, along with the Royal Aero Club, to larger quarters at Eastchurch, 4 km or so away, where the Short-Dunne 5, designed by John W. Dunne, was built, the first tailless aircraft
to fly. In 1911 they built the world's first successful twin-engine aircraft, the S.39 or Triple Twin. At this time seaplanes had to be taken by barge to Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey
to be launched and tested.
Francis 'Frank' McClean was a keen aviator (there were 16 aircraft in his private fleet 1910–1914) who acted as the Short Brothers' test pilot on an unpaid basis, until this began to place too many demands upon his time. In 1913 his place was filled by Gordon Bell, Shorts' first professional test pilot, until 1914, when he was succeeded by Ronald Kemp. Kemp could not handle the volume of flight testing and development alone, and "by 1916 was having to receive occasional help from other freelance pilots". One of these young men was John Lankester Parker
, whose name would become inextricably linked with Shorts for many years. Parker eventually succeeded Kemp as Shorts' Chief Test Pilot
in 1918, a post he was to occupy for the next 27 years.
. As part of the contract a loan was provided to enable the Company to purchase a site near Cardington, Bedfordshire
, on which to construct airship construction facilities, so while the company concentrated on the construction of heavier-than-air aeroplanes in the Isle of Sheppey/Rochester area, balloon and dirigibles construction was concentrated in Cardington. The name of the company was changed in 1919 to Short Brothers (Rochester and Bedford) Ltd., but nationalisation the same year ended the Short Brothers' involvement with the company, which became the Royal Airship Works
. The housing estate built by the company near Cardington to house its employees still bears the name Shortstown.
, near Rochester, Kent, was purchased from a Mr. Willis (a local councillor
) and the planning and construction work started.
By early 1915 the first facility of what was to become known as the Seaplane Works was completed: No.1 Erecting Shop. As this and the No.2 and No.3 shops became available, the workforce moved from the Eastchurch factory, No.3 being completed in 1917. A long concrete slipway
was constructed from the centre-line of No.3 Erecting Shop to enable aircraft of up to 20 tons weight to be launched even at low tide.
when they supplied the Short Admiralty Type 184
(or simply "Short S.184"). The S.184 was the first aircraft to attack a ship with a live torpedo, when on 15 August 1915, one flying from HMS Ben-my-Chree
, piloted by Flight Commander Charles Edmonds
, hit a Turkish
supply ship in the Dardanelles
during the Battle of Gallipoli
. In terms of number built, the S.184 was Shorts' most successful pre-Second World War
aircraft: over 900 were produced, many under licence by other manufacturers. A landplane version of the S.184 was also sold to the Royal Flying Corps
as the Short Bomber
.
During the First World War, Shorts had also been among the manufacturers of two flying boats, the F3 and F5, designed by Sdn. Cmr. John Porte
at the Seaplane Experimental Station
, Felixstowe. When the war ended, some 50 of them were being built in Rochester.
Alan Cobham's
de Havilland DH.50 G-EBFO was fitted with Shorts twin metal floats at Rochester. Cobham then started a flight to Australia from the Medway on 30 June 1926. Two de Havilland Giant Moths were fitted with Shorts floats at Rochester, and the first was flown in June 1928 and both were delivered to Western Canada Airlines Ltd of Canada
.
Throughout the 1920s and '30s, the only viable way to operate long-range civilian flight was by flying boat
, as the necessary runway infrastructure was not widespread and would be too expensive to construct for the relatively small number of flights. Shorts took to the flying boat market, producing a series of three designs known under the Singapore name. The Singapore I was made famous in 1927 by Sir Alan Cobham
, when he, his wife, and crew made a survey of Africa
while flying some 23,000 miles. {This in itself was a trip that would both prove the worth of Flying Boats but also highlight the drawbacks and ease of damage from uncontrollable waters, especially sea tides!}
Shorts then started design work on one of their most famous designs, the Short Calcutta
, based on the Singapore layout but larger and more powerful. The Calcutta first flew in 1928 and began active service with Imperial Airways
in August. Two more were added to the fleet by April 1929 and flew passenger-preferred coastal routes from Genoa
to Alexandria
by way of Athens
, Corfu
, Naples
, and Rome
. A number of Calcuttas were used on shorter routes, and were instrumental in permitting long-range airline services between outposts of the British Empire
. They followed the production of four Calcuttas with the larger Kent
, following with a series of still larger aircraft designs such as the Short Empire
, the first of which was launched on 2 July 1936 The Empire was commissioned off the drawing board by Imperial Airways (later BOAC
) to operate the UK's Empire Airmail scheme. A year later they won a British Government defence contract for a military flying boat, the Sunderland
. Sharing the same basic design but a modified upper structure, the Sunderland was one of the most effective long-range seaplanes in use. Dreaded by U-Boats, it was nicknamed "The Flying Porcupine" (Fliegendes Stachelschwein in German), perhaps due to its extensive armament and the several prominent dorsal antennae.
A Short Empire was used by Imperial Airways
for the first westbound transatlantic service from Foynes
, Ireland
to Newfoundland on 5 July 1937.
In 1933, Shorts opened a new factory at Rochester Airport, which was becoming increasing important for the landplanes the company was producing.
In 1934, they finally closed their Eastchurch premises and purchased the Pobjoy engine manufacturers, which had moved to Rochester Airport to be near Shorts and with whom they had worked on their latest designs.
formed a new aircraft factory in Belfast
, creating a new company owned 50% each by Harland and Wolff
and Shorts, Short & Harland Ltd. The first products of the new factory were 50 Bristol Bombay
s followed by 150 Handley-Page Hereford bomber
s.
Their work on seaplanes eventually culminated in the Short Sandringham
and Short Seaford
types, both based on the Empire/Sunderland boats. These flying boats had enough range to operate as a transatlantic airliner
, but largely served the post-war Empire (Commonwealth
) market; in competition with 4-engined land planes like the modified Avro Lancaster
s, the Avro Lancastrian
and Avro York
.
The Coral Route was operated by TEAL
from New Zealand
to Fiji
, the Cook Islands
and Tahiti
in the South Pacific with Short Solent
flying boats up to 1960.
during the Second World War
where its long range and long flying time allowed it to close the Mid-Atlantic
air gap between Iceland
and Greenland
, helping end the Battle of the Atlantic. It also rescued sea and air crews from the waters surrounding its spheres of operation especially those of Coastal Command
. A squadron was ordered by the Australian Air Force but never made it to Australia, instead Australians flew for the Royal Air Force Coastal Command. Australia impressed Qantas-Imperial Empire boats and used these successfully especially on reconnaissance missions in the Timor Sea area.
It was their work on the Sunderland that also won them the contract for the Short Stirling
, the RAF's first four-engine bomber. If based on their original submission, essentially a land-based Sunderland with various cleanups, there seems to be no reason to suspect that the Stirling would not have been an excellent heavy bomber
. Instead the Air Ministry stipulated a number of other requirements of the plane, that it should be able to function as a troop transport for instance, that eventually doomed it as newer designs outperformed it. A high-speed, long-range, four-engined flying-boat, the Short Shetland
was built (with Saunders-Roe
providing the wings and a lot of the detail design work) in 1944, but the war ended before the second prototype was completed. The project continued postwar but was eventually abandoned.
During the Battle of Britain
, the Rochester factory was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe
and several of the early-run Stirlings and other aircraft were destroyed. From this point on, the Belfast factory became increasingly important as it was thought to be well beyond the range of German bombers. However, Belfast and the aircraft factory were subjected to German aircraft bombing during Easter
week of 1941. To meet the increased requirement for its aircraft during the war, satellite factories near Belfast were operated at Aldergrove and Maghaberry, producing 232 Stirlings between them. A temporary Shorts factory was established at White Cross Bay, Windermere
, which produced 35 Mark III Sunderland
s. Also during the war Austin Motors at Longbridge, Birmingham, produced over 600 Stirlings
and Blackburn Aircraft
, of Dumbarton, Scotland, produced 240 Sunderlands.
In 1943, the Government took over the ownership and management of Shorts under Defence Regulation 78: for the second time (after the nationalisation of the Airplane Works in Cardington
in 1919) Short Brothers was affected by nationalisation. Oswald Short, who had resigned as Chairman in January of that year, remained as Honorary Life President.
By 1947 all of their other wartime factories had been closed, and operations concentrated in Belfast. In 1948 the company offices followed and Shorts became a Belfast company in its entirety. In the meantime, in 1947, Short Brothers (Rochester and Bedford) Ltd. had merged with Short and Harland Limited to become Short Brothers and Harland Limited, with Oswald Short remaining as Life President.
In the 1950s, Shorts was involved in much pioneering research, including designing and building the VTOL Short SC1
, the Short SB5
and the Short SB.4 Sherpa. They built the Short Sperrin
, a backup jet engine bomber design in case the V-bomber projects failed and the Short Seamew
, a cheap to produce anti-submarine reconnaissance and attack aircraft intended for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve squadrons, but these were closed down before deliveries were made. In the 1950s, Shorts also received sub-contracts to build 150 English Electric Canberra
s, the first of these aircraft making its maiden flight on 30 October 1952. Of these, Shorts delivered 60 Canberra B.2s, 49 B.6s and 23 P.R.9s, the remaining 18 being cancelled by the Government in 1957. Further Canberra work was involved in the conversion of time-expired B.2s into unmanned radio-controlled missile target aircraft. Two prototypes and 10 production type U.10 aircraft were produced, followed by six improved type U.14s. These aircraft were controlled from the ground by VHF radio and were equipped to provide feedback on their own performance as well as that of the missiles aimed at them. To assist them with the design of increasingly complex aircraft, Shorts became involved as early as 1953 with pioneering the development of electronic analogue computers.
In 1954 the Bristol Aeroplane Company
became a 15.25% shareholder in Shorts and the company used the injection of funds to set up a production line for the Bristol Britannia
turbo-prop airliner, known in the press as The Whispering Giant. Although it was originally intended that 35 Britannias should be built by Shorts, a shortage of work at Bristols led to this number being reduced. In the end 15 Britannias were completed by Shorts; five sets of Britannia components were sent to Filton and used on the continued production of Britannias there.
In the 1960s, Shorts found a niche for a new short-haul freighter
aircraft and responded with the Short SC.7 Skyvan
. The Skyvan is most remembered for its box-like, slab-sided appearance and rectangular twin tail units, but the plane was well loved for its performance and loading. Serving almost the same performance niche as the famous de Havilland Twin Otter, the Skyvan proved more popular in the freighter market due to the large rear cargo door that allowed it to handle bulky loads with ease. Skyvans can still be found around the world today, notably in the Canadian Arctic.
An airfield had been established by Shorts beside the Belfast factory in 1937 as Sydenham Airport. This was Belfast's main civilian airport from 1938 to 1939. The airfield was requisitioned by the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Nutts Corner, a former RAF base, later became Belfast's main airport (and was itself superseded by Aldergrove
in 1963). Aldergrove continues to be used for military purposes as RAF Aldergrove
, hosting helicopters and occasional visitors from both the USAF and RAF. Shorts used this airfield until production of complete aircraft ceased. In 1983, following interest from airlines and customers, the airfield was opened for commercial flights as Belfast Harbour Airport (later Belfast City Airport (BCA), now George Best Belfast City Airport
). Following major capital investment Bombardier sold BCA for £35 million in 2003.
In the 1970s, Shorts entered the feederliner market with their Shorts 330
, a stretched modification of the Skyvan, called the C-23 Sherpa in USAF service, and another stretch resulted in the more streamlined Shorts 360
, in which a more conventional central fin superseded the older H-profiled twin fins.
In 1988, loyalists
working at the factory attempted to sell parts, information and knowledge of a new missile system to the apartheid government of South Africa
. This was linked to a large arms shipment in 1988 which was then divided between the Ulster Defence Association
, the Ulster Volunteer Force, and Ulster Resistance
. In April 1989, three Northern Irish men, Noel Lyttle, Samuel Quinn and James King, were arrested in Paris. Also arrested were arms dealer Douglas Bernhardt and a South African diplomat, Daniel Storm.
in preparation for privatisation. The government announced the sale of Shorts to Bombardier on 7 June 1989 for £30 million. As part of the sale the government also agreed to write off £390 million of the company's "accumulated losses and inject another £390 million to recapitalise the group and cover current and future losses, capital investment and training." Bombardier beat a bid from The General Electric Company plc and Fokker
whilst Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm withdrew before final offers were submitted. The sale was finalised on 4 October 1989.
In 1993, Bombardier Shorts and Thomson-CSF
formed a joint venture, Shorts Missile Systems, for the design and development of very short-range, air defence missiles for the UK Ministry of Defence
and armed forces worldwide using expertise dating back to the 1950s. In 2000, Thomson-CSF bought Bombardier's 50% share to become the sole owner. Shorts Missile Systems was renamed Thales Air Defence Limited in 2001.
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
company, usually referred to simply as Shorts, that is now based in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Founded in 1908, Shorts was the first company in the world to make production aircraft and was a manufacturer of flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and Royal Air Force bombers throughout the Second World War. In the immediate post-war period it received orders for several military and experimental aircraft. From the 1960s Shorts turned primarily to the production of passenger aircraft for regional airlines, major components for aerospace prime manufacturers, and missiles for British armed forces. In 1989 the company was bought by Bombardier. Within Bombardier Aerospace, Shorts designs and manufactures nacelle
Nacelle
The nacelle is a cover housing that holds engines, fuel, or equipment on an aircraft. In some cases—for instance in the typical "Farman" type "pusher" aircraft, or the World War II-era P-38 Lightning—an aircraft's cockpit may also be housed in a nacelle, which essentially fills the...
s, fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
s and aircraft flight control systems
Aircraft flight control systems
A conventional fixed-wing aircraft flight control system consists of flight control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, connecting linkages, and the necessary operating mechanisms to control an aircraft's direction in flight...
. Shorts is the largest manufacturing concern in Northern Ireland. Today the company's products include aircraft components and engine nacelle
Nacelle
The nacelle is a cover housing that holds engines, fuel, or equipment on an aircraft. In some cases—for instance in the typical "Farman" type "pusher" aircraft, or the World War II-era P-38 Lightning—an aircraft's cockpit may also be housed in a nacelle, which essentially fills the...
s for its parent company Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace
Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
, and for Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, Rolls-Royce Deutschland
Rolls-Royce Deutschland
Rolls-Royce Deutschland is a subsidiary of aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce plc with facilities at Dahlewitz outside Berlin and at Oberursel near Frankfurt am Main...
, General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
and Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
.
The early years
What would eventually become Short Brothers had its origins in 1897 when Eustace (June 1875–1932) and Oswald (January 16, 1883–December 1969) Short took their first flight in a coal gasCoal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
filled balloon
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
. Their father had served his apprenticeship with Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
. In 1902 the two brothers started offering balloons for sale, winning a contract for three for the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
in 1905. The balloons were manufactured by the brothers in premises above the acoustic laboratory run by a third brother, Horace (July 2, 1872– April 6, 1917), for Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's European agent, Col. Gouraud, in Hove, Sussex. When Horace left Hove in 1903 to work on steam turbine development with Charles Parsons, Eustace and Oswald moved their workshop to rented accommodation in two railway arches in Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
, southwest London, conveniently situated next to Battersea gas-works. In 1908 they were joined by Horace and in November 1908 they registered their partnership under the name Short Brothers. The Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
contracted with the new company the British rights to build the Wright Flyer
Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer was the first powered aircraft, designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903 near the Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, U.S.The U.S...
; an initial order for six aircraft was taken, all of them taken up by members of the Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
. Short Brothers became the first aircraft manufacturing company in the world.
In July 1909, Shorts created Shellbeach Aerodrome on unobstructed marshland next to Muswell Manor, (then known as "Mussel Manor" near Leysdown-on-Sea
Leysdown-on-Sea
Leysdown-on-Sea is a coastal village on the east side of the Isle of Sheppey in the Borough of Swale in Kent, England.-History:It was noted in the Domesday book as being called Legesdun and the name is thought to be derived from the Saxon words "Leswe" and "Dun" .A very small hamlet up to late...
on the Isle of Sheppey
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
in the Thames Estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
,which had recently been purchased by Frank McClean for the use of the Aero Club (which was granted the "Royal" prefix in the same year).
Tailless aircraft
A tailless aircraft traditionally has all its horizontal control surfaces on its main wing surface. It has no horizontal stabilizer - either tailplane or canard foreplane . A 'tailless' type usually still has a vertical stabilising fin and control surface...
to fly. In 1911 they built the world's first successful twin-engine aircraft, the S.39 or Triple Twin. At this time seaplanes had to be taken by barge to Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey
Isle of Sheppey
The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the northern coast of Kent, England in the Thames Estuary, some to the east of London. It has an area of . The island forms part of the local government district of Swale...
to be launched and tested.
Francis 'Frank' McClean was a keen aviator (there were 16 aircraft in his private fleet 1910–1914) who acted as the Short Brothers' test pilot on an unpaid basis, until this began to place too many demands upon his time. In 1913 his place was filled by Gordon Bell, Shorts' first professional test pilot, until 1914, when he was succeeded by Ronald Kemp. Kemp could not handle the volume of flight testing and development alone, and "by 1916 was having to receive occasional help from other freelance pilots". One of these young men was John Lankester Parker
John Lankester Parker
John Lankester Parker OBE FRAeS Hon. MSLAE was Chief Test Pilot for Short Brothers from 1918 until his retirement in 1945. He joined Shorts in 1916 as a part-time test pilot and assistant to then Chief Test Pilot Ronald Kemp, having been recommended for the post by Captain, later Admiral Sir,...
, whose name would become inextricably linked with Shorts for many years. Parker eventually succeeded Kemp as Shorts' Chief Test Pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
in 1918, a post he was to occupy for the next 27 years.
Operations in Cardington, Bedford
In 1916, Shorts Brothers was awarded a contract to build two large dirigible airships for the AdmiraltyAdmiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
. As part of the contract a loan was provided to enable the Company to purchase a site near Cardington, Bedfordshire
Cardington, Bedfordshire
Cardington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, EnglandPart of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station...
, on which to construct airship construction facilities, so while the company concentrated on the construction of heavier-than-air aeroplanes in the Isle of Sheppey/Rochester area, balloon and dirigibles construction was concentrated in Cardington. The name of the company was changed in 1919 to Short Brothers (Rochester and Bedford) Ltd., but nationalisation the same year ended the Short Brothers' involvement with the company, which became the Royal Airship Works
Cardington, Bedfordshire
Cardington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, EnglandPart of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station...
. The housing estate built by the company near Cardington to house its employees still bears the name Shortstown.
Expansion in Rochester
Due to the company's success and to the increasing number of seaplanes being produced, it became clear that larger premises with access to the sea were needed. In 1913 an 8.4 acre (3.4 hectare) plot of land some 14 nautical miles (26 km) away at BorstalBorstal, Kent
Borstal is a place in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. Originally a village near Rochester, it has become absorbed by the expansion of Rochester.The youth prison at Borstal gave its name to the Borstal reform school system.-History:...
, near Rochester, Kent, was purchased from a Mr. Willis (a local councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
) and the planning and construction work started.
By early 1915 the first facility of what was to become known as the Seaplane Works was completed: No.1 Erecting Shop. As this and the No.2 and No.3 shops became available, the workforce moved from the Eastchurch factory, No.3 being completed in 1917. A long concrete slipway
Slipway
A slipway, boat slip or just a slip, is a ramp on the shore by which ships or boats can be moved to and from the water. They are used for building and repairing ships and boats. They are also used for launching and retrieving small boats on trailers and flying boats on their undercarriage. The...
was constructed from the centre-line of No.3 Erecting Shop to enable aircraft of up to 20 tons weight to be launched even at low tide.
First World War
Over the next few years Shorts built a variety of aircraft, but started to expand during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
when they supplied the Short Admiralty Type 184
Short Type 184
|-Manufacturers:Source: Barnes and James#Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. #Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. #J. Samuel White #Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. #Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company #Robey & Co. Ltd. #S E Saunders Limited...
(or simply "Short S.184"). The S.184 was the first aircraft to attack a ship with a live torpedo, when on 15 August 1915, one flying from HMS Ben-my-Chree
HMS Ben-my-Chree
HMS Ben-my-Chree was a packet steamer and a Royal Navy seaplane carrier of the First World War. She had originally been built as a fast passenger ferry for the Isle of Man Steam Packet — the third to bear her name — in 1907 by Vickers for the England–Isle of Man route...
, piloted by Flight Commander Charles Edmonds
Charles Edmonds
Air Vice-Marshal Charles Humphrey Kingsman Edmonds CBE DSO RAF was a decorated British naval aviator during World War I and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during World War II....
, hit a Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
supply ship in the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
during the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
. In terms of number built, the S.184 was Shorts' most successful pre-Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
aircraft: over 900 were produced, many under licence by other manufacturers. A landplane version of the S.184 was also sold to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
as the Short Bomber
Short Bomber
-See also:...
.
During the First World War, Shorts had also been among the manufacturers of two flying boats, the F3 and F5, designed by Sdn. Cmr. John Porte
John Cyril Porte
Lieutenant Commander John Cyril Porte CMG, DSM, Royal Navy was a flying boat pioneer associated with the World War I Seaplane Experimental Station at Felixstowe.-Biography:...
at the Seaplane Experimental Station
Seaplane Experimental Station
The Seaplane Experimental Station at Royal Naval Air Station Felixstowe was a British aircraft design unit of the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
, Felixstowe. When the war ended, some 50 of them were being built in Rochester.
The 1920s and 1930s
During the post-First World War years and the Depression of the early 1920s, the economic climate was difficult for the small aircraft industry in the United Kingdom. Shorts managed to survive without reducing the company's headcount by diversifying, e.g. by building lightweight bus and tram bodies for delivery to bus companies throughout the British Isles.Alan Cobham's
Alan Cobham
Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC was an English aviation pioneer.A member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, Alan Cobham became famous as a pioneer of long distance aviation. After the war he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly...
de Havilland DH.50 G-EBFO was fitted with Shorts twin metal floats at Rochester. Cobham then started a flight to Australia from the Medway on 30 June 1926. Two de Havilland Giant Moths were fitted with Shorts floats at Rochester, and the first was flown in June 1928 and both were delivered to Western Canada Airlines Ltd of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Throughout the 1920s and '30s, the only viable way to operate long-range civilian flight was by flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
, as the necessary runway infrastructure was not widespread and would be too expensive to construct for the relatively small number of flights. Shorts took to the flying boat market, producing a series of three designs known under the Singapore name. The Singapore I was made famous in 1927 by Sir Alan Cobham
Alan Cobham
Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC was an English aviation pioneer.A member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, Alan Cobham became famous as a pioneer of long distance aviation. After the war he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly...
, when he, his wife, and crew made a survey of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
while flying some 23,000 miles. {This in itself was a trip that would both prove the worth of Flying Boats but also highlight the drawbacks and ease of damage from uncontrollable waters, especially sea tides!}
Short S.8 Calcutta
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Barnes C.H. and D.N. James. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985....
, based on the Singapore layout but larger and more powerful. The Calcutta first flew in 1928 and began active service with Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East...
in August. Two more were added to the fleet by April 1929 and flew passenger-preferred coastal routes from Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
to Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
by way of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. A number of Calcuttas were used on shorter routes, and were instrumental in permitting long-range airline services between outposts of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. They followed the production of four Calcuttas with the larger Kent
Short Kent
The Short S.17 Kent was a British four-engined 15-seat biplane luxury flying boat airliner, designed and built by Shorts to meet a requirement from Imperial Airways for an aircraft with greater range than the Short Calcutta....
, following with a series of still larger aircraft designs such as the Short Empire
Short Empire
The Short Empire was a passenger and mail carrying flying boat, of the 1930s and 1940s, that flew between Britain and British colonies in Africa, Asia and Australia...
, the first of which was launched on 2 July 1936 The Empire was commissioned off the drawing board by Imperial Airways (later BOAC
Boac
Boac may refer to:* Boac, Marinduque, a municipality in the Southern Philippines* Boac , an American rapper* British Overseas Airways Corporation, a former British state-owned airline...
) to operate the UK's Empire Airmail scheme. A year later they won a British Government defence contract for a military flying boat, the Sunderland
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
. Sharing the same basic design but a modified upper structure, the Sunderland was one of the most effective long-range seaplanes in use. Dreaded by U-Boats, it was nicknamed "The Flying Porcupine" (Fliegendes Stachelschwein in German), perhaps due to its extensive armament and the several prominent dorsal antennae.
A Short Empire was used by Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East...
for the first westbound transatlantic service from Foynes
Foynes
Foynes is a village and major port in County Limerick in the midwest of Ireland, located at the edge of hilly land on the southern bank of the Shannon Estuary. The population of the town was 606 as of the 2006 census.-Foynes's role in aviation:...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to Newfoundland on 5 July 1937.
In 1933, Shorts opened a new factory at Rochester Airport, which was becoming increasing important for the landplanes the company was producing.
In 1934, they finally closed their Eastchurch premises and purchased the Pobjoy engine manufacturers, which had moved to Rochester Airport to be near Shorts and with whom they had worked on their latest designs.
First moves to Belfast
In 1936, the Air MinistryAir Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
formed a new aircraft factory in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, creating a new company owned 50% each by Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
and Shorts, Short & Harland Ltd. The first products of the new factory were 50 Bristol Bombay
Bristol Bombay
|-See also:...
s followed by 150 Handley-Page Hereford bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s.
Their work on seaplanes eventually culminated in the Short Sandringham
Short Sandringham
- External links :* -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, A.J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume Three. London: Putnam & Company Ltd, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X....
and Short Seaford
Short Seaford
-Survivor:J203 RAF Short Sunderland IV/Seaford I S-45 NJ203. 1947 Converted to Short Solent 3 by Short Bros Belfast. 1949 BOAC G-AKNP “City of Cardiff". 1951 Trans Oceanic Airways of Australia as VH-TOB "Star of Papua". 1953 South Pacific Air Lines as N9946F "Isle of Tahiti". Last flew 1958. 1958...
types, both based on the Empire/Sunderland boats. These flying boats had enough range to operate as a transatlantic airliner
Airliner
An airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
, but largely served the post-war Empire (Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
) market; in competition with 4-engined land planes like the modified Avro Lancaster
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
s, the Avro Lancastrian
Avro Lancastrian
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Franks, Richard A. The Avro Lancaster, Manchester and Lincoln: A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller. London: SAM Publications, 2000. ISBN 0-9533465-3-6....
and Avro York
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
.
The Coral Route was operated by TEAL
TEAL
Tasman Empire Airways Limited was the forerunner of Air New Zealand. It was first registered in Wellington as a limited liability company on 26 April 1940....
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
and Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
in the South Pacific with Short Solent
Short Solent
- External links :* * *...
flying boats up to 1960.
Second World War
The Sunderland became famous as an anti-submarine patrol bomberPatrol bomber
A maritime patrol aircraft , also known as a patrol aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, or by the older American term patrol bomber, is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles - in particular anti-submarine, anti-ship and search and...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
where its long range and long flying time allowed it to close the Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic gap
The Mid-Atlantic Gap was the gap in coverage by land-based Coastal Command antisubmarine aircraft during the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. It is frequently known as The Black Pit, as well as the Atlantic Gap, Air Gap, Greenland Gap, or just "the Gap". This resulted in heavy...
air gap between Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, helping end the Battle of the Atlantic. It also rescued sea and air crews from the waters surrounding its spheres of operation especially those of Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Coastal Command was a formation within the Royal Air Force . Founded in 1936, it was the RAF's premier maritime arm, after the Royal Navy's secondment of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937. Naval aviation was neglected in the inter-war period, 1919–1939, and as a consequence the service did not receive...
. A squadron was ordered by the Australian Air Force but never made it to Australia, instead Australians flew for the Royal Air Force Coastal Command. Australia impressed Qantas-Imperial Empire boats and used these successfully especially on reconnaissance missions in the Timor Sea area.
It was their work on the Sunderland that also won them the contract for the Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
, the RAF's first four-engine bomber. If based on their original submission, essentially a land-based Sunderland with various cleanups, there seems to be no reason to suspect that the Stirling would not have been an excellent heavy bomber
Heavy bomber
A heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
. Instead the Air Ministry stipulated a number of other requirements of the plane, that it should be able to function as a troop transport for instance, that eventually doomed it as newer designs outperformed it. A high-speed, long-range, four-engined flying-boat, the Short Shetland
Short Shetland
-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. and James, D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London, Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Royal Air Force: The "Griffon" Spitfire, The Albemarle Bomber and the Shetland Flying-Boat. London: Faber & Faber Ltd., 1980. ISBN...
was built (with Saunders-Roe
Saunders-Roe
Saunders-Roe Limited was a British aero- and marine-engineering company based at Columbine Works East Cowes, Isle of Wight.-History:The name was adopted in 1929 after Alliot Verdon Roe and John Lord took a controlling interest in the boat-builders S.E. Saunders...
providing the wings and a lot of the detail design work) in 1944, but the war ended before the second prototype was completed. The project continued postwar but was eventually abandoned.
During the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, the Rochester factory was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
and several of the early-run Stirlings and other aircraft were destroyed. From this point on, the Belfast factory became increasingly important as it was thought to be well beyond the range of German bombers. However, Belfast and the aircraft factory were subjected to German aircraft bombing during Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week of 1941. To meet the increased requirement for its aircraft during the war, satellite factories near Belfast were operated at Aldergrove and Maghaberry, producing 232 Stirlings between them. A temporary Shorts factory was established at White Cross Bay, Windermere
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
, which produced 35 Mark III Sunderland
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
s. Also during the war Austin Motors at Longbridge, Birmingham, produced over 600 Stirlings
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
and Blackburn Aircraft
Blackburn Aircraft
Blackburn Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer that concentrated mainly on naval and maritime aircraft during the first part of the 20th century.-History:...
, of Dumbarton, Scotland, produced 240 Sunderlands.
In 1943, the Government took over the ownership and management of Shorts under Defence Regulation 78: for the second time (after the nationalisation of the Airplane Works in Cardington
Cardington
Cardington may refer to:*Cardington, Bedfordshire, a village and civil parish in England*Cardington, Shropshire, a village and civil parish in England*Cardington, Ohio, a village in the United States...
in 1919) Short Brothers was affected by nationalisation. Oswald Short, who had resigned as Chairman in January of that year, remained as Honorary Life President.
Postwar
In the 1950s, Shorts was involved in much pioneering research, including designing and building the VTOL Short SC1
Short SC.1
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. with revisions by Derek N. James. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989 . ISBN 0-85177-819-4.*Illingworth J. K. B. and Chinn H.W. . London: HMSO, 1969. Retrieved: 11 December 2007....
, the Short SB5
Short SB5
-See also:Related development:* English Electric LightningComparable aircraft:* Handley-Page HP.115* Saab 210-References:* "Empire Test Pilots' School: Twenty Five Years". Empire Test Pilots' School Twenty-fifth Anniversary brochure. 1968....
and the Short SB.4 Sherpa. They built the Short Sperrin
Short Sperrin
The Short SA.4 Sperrin was a British jet bomber design of the early 1950s built by Short Brothers and Harland of Belfast, popularly abbreviated "Shorts". It first flew in 1951...
, a backup jet engine bomber design in case the V-bomber projects failed and the Short Seamew
Short Seamew
The Short SB.6 Seamew was a British aircraft designed in 1951 by David Keith-Lucas of Shorts as a lightweight anti-submarine platform to replace the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 's Grumman Avenger AS 4 with the Reserve branch of the service...
, a cheap to produce anti-submarine reconnaissance and attack aircraft intended for the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve squadrons, but these were closed down before deliveries were made. In the 1950s, Shorts also received sub-contracts to build 150 English Electric Canberra
English Electric Canberra
The English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
s, the first of these aircraft making its maiden flight on 30 October 1952. Of these, Shorts delivered 60 Canberra B.2s, 49 B.6s and 23 P.R.9s, the remaining 18 being cancelled by the Government in 1957. Further Canberra work was involved in the conversion of time-expired B.2s into unmanned radio-controlled missile target aircraft. Two prototypes and 10 production type U.10 aircraft were produced, followed by six improved type U.14s. These aircraft were controlled from the ground by VHF radio and were equipped to provide feedback on their own performance as well as that of the missiles aimed at them. To assist them with the design of increasingly complex aircraft, Shorts became involved as early as 1953 with pioneering the development of electronic analogue computers.
In 1954 the Bristol Aeroplane Company
Bristol Aeroplane Company
The Bristol Aeroplane Company, originally the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, was both one of the first and one of the most important British aviation companies, designing and manufacturing both airframes and aero engines...
became a 15.25% shareholder in Shorts and the company used the injection of funds to set up a production line for the Bristol Britannia
Bristol Britannia
The Bristol Type 175 Britannia was a British medium-to-long-range airliner built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1952 to fly across the British Empire...
turbo-prop airliner, known in the press as The Whispering Giant. Although it was originally intended that 35 Britannias should be built by Shorts, a shortage of work at Bristols led to this number being reduced. In the end 15 Britannias were completed by Shorts; five sets of Britannia components were sent to Filton and used on the continued production of Britannias there.
In the 1960s, Shorts found a niche for a new short-haul freighter
Cargo aircraft
A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo...
aircraft and responded with the Short SC.7 Skyvan
Short SC.7 Skyvan
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 . London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.-External links:****...
. The Skyvan is most remembered for its box-like, slab-sided appearance and rectangular twin tail units, but the plane was well loved for its performance and loading. Serving almost the same performance niche as the famous de Havilland Twin Otter, the Skyvan proved more popular in the freighter market due to the large rear cargo door that allowed it to handle bulky loads with ease. Skyvans can still be found around the world today, notably in the Canadian Arctic.
An airfield had been established by Shorts beside the Belfast factory in 1937 as Sydenham Airport. This was Belfast's main civilian airport from 1938 to 1939. The airfield was requisitioned by the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Nutts Corner, a former RAF base, later became Belfast's main airport (and was itself superseded by Aldergrove
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is a major airport located northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with...
in 1963). Aldergrove continues to be used for military purposes as RAF Aldergrove
RAF Aldergrove
RAF Aldergrove was a Royal Air Force station situated northwest of Belfast. It adjoined Belfast International Airport, sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of the surrounding area...
, hosting helicopters and occasional visitors from both the USAF and RAF. Shorts used this airfield until production of complete aircraft ceased. In 1983, following interest from airlines and customers, the airfield was opened for commercial flights as Belfast Harbour Airport (later Belfast City Airport (BCA), now George Best Belfast City Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Situated adjacent to the Port of Belfast it is from Belfast City Centre. It shares the site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility...
). Following major capital investment Bombardier sold BCA for £35 million in 2003.
In the 1970s, Shorts entered the feederliner market with their Shorts 330
Shorts 330
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes C.H. and James Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Aurum, 1999. ISBN 1-85410-642-2....
, a stretched modification of the Skyvan, called the C-23 Sherpa in USAF service, and another stretch resulted in the more streamlined Shorts 360
Shorts 360
The Short 360 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:...
, in which a more conventional central fin superseded the older H-profiled twin fins.
In 1988, loyalists
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
working at the factory attempted to sell parts, information and knowledge of a new missile system to the apartheid government of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This was linked to a large arms shipment in 1988 which was then divided between the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
, the Ulster Volunteer Force, and Ulster Resistance
Ulster Resistance
Ulster Resistance was a paramilitary movement established by unionists in Northern Ireland on 10 November 1986 in opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement.-Origins:The group was launched at a three thousand-strong invitation-only meeting at the Ulster Hall...
. In April 1989, three Northern Irish men, Noel Lyttle, Samuel Quinn and James King, were arrested in Paris. Also arrested were arms dealer Douglas Bernhardt and a South African diplomat, Daniel Storm.
Bombardier purchase
In 1977, the company changed its name back to Short Brothers, and in 1984 became a public limited companyPublic limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
in preparation for privatisation. The government announced the sale of Shorts to Bombardier on 7 June 1989 for £30 million. As part of the sale the government also agreed to write off £390 million of the company's "accumulated losses and inject another £390 million to recapitalise the group and cover current and future losses, capital investment and training." Bombardier beat a bid from The General Electric Company plc and Fokker
Fokker
Fokker was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer named after its founder, Anthony Fokker. The company operated under several different names, starting out in 1912 in Schwerin, Germany, moving to the Netherlands in 1919....
whilst Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm withdrew before final offers were submitted. The sale was finalised on 4 October 1989.
In 1993, Bombardier Shorts and Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF
Thomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
formed a joint venture, Shorts Missile Systems, for the design and development of very short-range, air defence missiles for the UK Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and armed forces worldwide using expertise dating back to the 1950s. In 2000, Thomson-CSF bought Bombardier's 50% share to become the sole owner. Shorts Missile Systems was renamed Thales Air Defence Limited in 2001.
1900–1909
- Short Biplane No. 1
- Short Biplane No. 2 (1909)
- Short Biplane No. 3
1910–1919
- Dunne D.5 (1910)
- Dunne D.6Dunne D.6The Dunne D.6 was one of J. W. Dunne's sweptwing tailless aircraft designed to have automatic stability, flying about 1911. It was a single seat, single engined pusher monoplane with the Dunne-Capper glider and its powered version as antecedents, and was developed into the Dunne D.7.-Design and...
(1911) - Short Pusher Biplane (1910)
- Short S.27Short S.27The Short S.27 and its derivates, the Short Improved S.27 series, were important early British aircraft used by the Royal Navy and its first air arm, the Royal Naval Air Service . The S.27 and Improved S.27 were used for training of the Royal Navys first pilots as well as in early naval aviation...
(1910) - Short Tandem-Twin (1911, 2 x rotary engines for F. McLean)
- Short S.34
- Short S.36 (1912)
- Short S.38 (1911)
- Short S.38 Trainer (1915)
- Short S.39 Triple-Twin (1911)
- Short S.41Short S.41|-See also:-References:*Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London:Putnam, 1967.*Bruce, J.M. "". Flight, 14 December 1956. pp. 921–926.*Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957....
(1912) - Short S.42 monoplane
- Short S.45 (1912)
- Short S.46
- Short S.47 Triple-Tractor (1912, 2 x 50 hp rotary driving tractor propellers)
- Short S.54
- Short S.57 (1912)
- Short S.60 (1913)
- Short FolderShort FolderShort Folder is a generic name often applied to several different Short Brothers' aircraft types designed and built prior to and during World War I...
(1913 ff.) - Short Type 3
- Short Type 42
- Short Type 74Short Admiralty Type 74-External links:* -See also:...
- Short Type 81 (1913)
- Short Type 135 (1914)
- Short Type 136 (1914)
- Short Type 166 (1914)
- Short Type 184Short Type 184|-Manufacturers:Source: Barnes and James#Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. #Frederick Sage & Co. Ltd. #J. Samuel White #Mann, Egerton & Co. Ltd. #Phoenix Dynamo Manufacturing Company #Robey & Co. Ltd. #S E Saunders Limited...
(1915) - Short BomberShort Bomber-See also:...
(1915) - Short Type 827Short Type 827|-See also:-External links:...
(1914) - Short Type 830Short Type 827|-See also:-External links:...
(1914) - Short 310 (1916)
- Short Type 320Short Type 320|-See also:...
(1916) - Short F3 Felixstowe (1917)
- Short F5 Felixstowe (1918)
- Short N.1B Shirl (1918)
- Short N.2BShort N.2B-References:*Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London:Putnam, 1967.*Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914-18. London:Putnam, 1957.*Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London:Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5....
(1917) - Short Sporting Type (1919)
1920–1929
- Short Silver Streak (1920)
- Short N.3 CromartyShort Cromarty|-See also:-References:*"". Flight, 14 December 1922, pp. 725—740.*Barnes, C.H. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London:Putnam, 1967.*London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK:Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3....
(1921) - Gnosspelius Gull (1923)
- Short S.1 Cockle (1924)
- Short S.3 SpringbokShort Springbok-See also:...
(1923) - Short S.3a SpringbokShort Springbok-See also:...
(1925) - Short S.3b ChamoisShort Springbok-See also:...
(1927) - Short S.4 SatelliteShort Satellite- References :*...
(1924) - Short S.5 Singapore I (1925)
- Short S.6 Sturgeon (1927) (Biplane)
- Short S.7 MusselShort MusselThe Short S.7 Mussel was a single-engined two-seat monoplane built by Short Brothers to test the performance of their duralumin monocoque floats. Two were built.-Development:...
(1926) - Short S.8 CalcuttaShort S.8 Calcutta-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Barnes C.H. and D.N. James. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985....
(1928) - Short S.10 GurnardShort GurnardThe Short Gurnard was a single-engined two-seat biplane naval fighter, built in the United Kingdom to an Air Ministry specification in 1929. It failed to win production orders and only two flew.-Design and development:...
(1929) - Short CrusaderShort Crusader-See also:-References:*http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/aircraft/Short%20Crusader.htm accessed 23 April 2008...
(1927)
1930–1939
- Short R.31 Airship
- Short S.8/8 RangoonShort Rangoon|-See also:...
(1930) - Short S.11 Valetta (1930)
- Short S.12 Singapore II (1930)
- Short S.17 KentShort KentThe Short S.17 Kent was a British four-engined 15-seat biplane luxury flying boat airliner, designed and built by Shorts to meet a requirement from Imperial Airways for an aircraft with greater range than the Short Calcutta....
(1931) - Short S.14 SarafandShort Sarafand-See also:- External links :*...
(1932) (originally known as the Short R6/28) - Short-Kawanishi S.15 KF1
- Short S.16 Scion/Scion IIShort ScionThe Short S.16 Scion and Scion II were 1930s British two-engine, cantilever monoplanes built by Short Brothers and by Pobjoy Airmotors and Aircraft Ltd. in Rochester, Kent between 1933 and 1937...
(1933) - Short S.18 KnuckledusterShort Knuckleduster-See also:-Bibliography:* ap Rees, Elfan. "Prototypes And Experimentals No 1: Short R.24/31". Air Pictorial, May 1971, p. 176.* Barnes, Christopher H. and Derek N. James. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4....
(1933) - Short L.17 ScyllaShort ScyllaThe two L.17 aircraft, G-ACJJ Scylla and G-ACJK Syrinx, had at different times three different engine configurations between them:# Four Bristol Jupiter XFBM one-row radial poppet valve piston engines of 595 hp each...
(1934) - Short S.19 Singapore III (1934)
- Short S.20 MercuryShort Mayo CompositeThe Short Mayo Composite was a piggy-back long-range seaplane/flying boat combination produced by Short Brothers to provide a reliable long-range air transport service to the United States and the far reaches of the British Empire and the Commonwealth....
(1937 Short Mayo CompositeShort Mayo CompositeThe Short Mayo Composite was a piggy-back long-range seaplane/flying boat combination produced by Short Brothers to provide a reliable long-range air transport service to the United States and the far reaches of the British Empire and the Commonwealth....
) - Short S.21 MaiaShort Mayo CompositeThe Short Mayo Composite was a piggy-back long-range seaplane/flying boat combination produced by Short Brothers to provide a reliable long-range air transport service to the United States and the far reaches of the British Empire and the Commonwealth....
(1937 Short Mayo CompositeShort Mayo CompositeThe Short Mayo Composite was a piggy-back long-range seaplane/flying boat combination produced by Short Brothers to provide a reliable long-range air transport service to the United States and the far reaches of the British Empire and the Commonwealth....
) - Short S.22 Scion SeniorShort Scion Senior|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. with revisions by Derek N. James. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989 . ISBN 0-85177-819-4....
(1935) - Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat (1936)
- Short S.25 SunderlandShort SunderlandThe Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
(1937) - Short S.25 SandringhamShort Sandringham- External links :* -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, A.J British Civil Aircraft since 1919 - Volume Three. London: Putnam & Company Ltd, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X....
(a post-war derivation of the Sunderland) - Short S.26 G-ClassShort S.26|-See also:-External link:* after conversion for RAF use...
(1939) - Short S.27 Civet - project - not built (1936)
- Short S.30 Empire Flying Boat (1938)
- Short S.31 (Half-scale Stirling)Short StirlingThe Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
(1938) - Short S.32
- Short S.29 StirlingShort StirlingThe Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
(1939)
1940–1949
- Short S.33 Empire Flying Boat (1940)
- Short S.35 Shetland 1Short Shetland-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. and James, D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London, Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Royal Air Force: The "Griffon" Spitfire, The Albemarle Bomber and the Shetland Flying-Boat. London: Faber & Faber Ltd., 1980. ISBN...
(1944) - Short S.45 SeafordShort Seaford-Survivor:J203 RAF Short Sunderland IV/Seaford I S-45 NJ203. 1947 Converted to Short Solent 3 by Short Bros Belfast. 1949 BOAC G-AKNP “City of Cardiff". 1951 Trans Oceanic Airways of Australia as VH-TOB "Star of Papua". 1953 South Pacific Air Lines as N9946F "Isle of Tahiti". Last flew 1958. 1958...
(1944) - Short S.45 SolentShort Solent- External links :* * *...
(1946) - Short S.38 SA1 SturgeonShort SturgeonThe Short Sturgeon was a British aircraft originally designed in the Second World War as a high-performance torpedo bomber. With the end of the war in the Pacific it was no longer needed as such. Through shifting priorities postwar, the Sturgeon was redesigned first into a target tug and then later...
(1946) - Short S.39 SA2 SturgeonShort SturgeonThe Short Sturgeon was a British aircraft originally designed in the Second World War as a high-performance torpedo bomber. With the end of the war in the Pacific it was no longer needed as such. Through shifting priorities postwar, the Sturgeon was redesigned first into a target tug and then later...
- Short S.1312 NimbusShort Nimbus-See also:...
(1947) - Short S.40 Shetland 2Short Shetland-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. and James, D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London, Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Royal Air Force: The "Griffon" Spitfire, The Albemarle Bomber and the Shetland Flying-Boat. London: Faber & Faber Ltd., 1980. ISBN...
(1947) - Short SB3 SturgeonShort SturgeonThe Short Sturgeon was a British aircraft originally designed in the Second World War as a high-performance torpedo bomber. With the end of the war in the Pacific it was no longer needed as such. Through shifting priorities postwar, the Sturgeon was redesigned first into a target tug and then later...
- Short SA6 Sealand (1948)
1950–1959
- Short S.42 SA4 SperrinShort SperrinThe Short SA.4 Sperrin was a British jet bomber design of the early 1950s built by Short Brothers and Harland of Belfast, popularly abbreviated "Shorts". It first flew in 1951...
(1951) - Short S.43 SA5 (project only)
- Short S.48 SA9 (glider - project only)
- Short SB1Short SB.1|-References:NotesBibliography* Barnes, C.H. with revisions by James, Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989 . ISBN 0-85177-819-4....
(1951) - Short SB5Short SB5-See also:Related development:* English Electric LightningComparable aircraft:* Handley-Page HP.115* Saab 210-References:* "Empire Test Pilots' School: Twenty Five Years". Empire Test Pilots' School Twenty-fifth Anniversary brochure. 1968....
(1952) - Short SB.4 Sherpa (1953)
- Short SB6 SeamewShort SeamewThe Short SB.6 Seamew was a British aircraft designed in 1951 by David Keith-Lucas of Shorts as a lightweight anti-submarine platform to replace the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 's Grumman Avenger AS 4 with the Reserve branch of the service...
(1953) - Short SB7 Sealand III
- Short SC1 (1957)
1960–
- Short SC9 Canberra (1961)
- Short SC7 Skyvan (1963)
- Short SC5 BelfastShort BelfastThe Short Belfast is a heavy lift turboprop freighter built by Short Brothers at Belfast. Only 10 were built for the British Royal Air Force with the designation Short Belfast C.1. When they were retired by the RAF, five went into civilian service with the cargo airline HeavyLift Cargo Airlines...
(1964) - Shorts 330 (1974)
- Shorts 360 (1981)
- Shorts C-23 SherpaC-23 Sherpa|-C-23B/C:-See also:-External links:*****...
(1985) - Short 312 TucanoShort Tucano|-See also:-External links:*...
(1986)
Missiles
- Blowpipe missileBlowpipe missileThe Shorts Blowpipe is a man-portable surface-to-air missile which was in use with the British Army and Royal Marines from 1975. It was superseded by an interim design, Javelin, and later the greatly improved Starstreak missile.-Description:...
– surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... - Javelin missileJavelin surface-to-air missileJavelin is a British, man-portable surface-to-air missile, formerly used by the British Army and Canadian Army. It can be fired from the shoulder, or from a dedicated launcher known as Javelin LML—Lightweight Multiple Launcher...
– surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... - Starburst missileStarburst surface-to-air missileStarburst is a British man-portable surface-to-air missile produced by Shorts Missile Systems of Belfast . It is used by the British Army, Malaysian Army, and in the Canadian Army as the Javelin...
– surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... - Starstreak missileStarstreak missileStarstreak is a British short range surface-to-air missile manufactured by Thales Air Defence , in Belfast. It is also known as Starstreak HVM where HVM stands for "High Velocity Missile". After launch the missile accelerates to approximately Mach 3.5, at which point it launches three laser beam...
– surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... - Sea Cat missileSea Cat missileSea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...
– sea or ship surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles... - TigercatSea Cat missileSea Cat was a British short-range surface to air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum...
– surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
Chief test pilots
- Francis McClean (honorary) until 1912
- Gordon Bell 1912–1914
- Sydney Pickles 1913 (Acting CTP during Bell's absence following a crash at Brooklands)
- Ronald C. Kemp 1914–1918
- John Lankester ParkerJohn Lankester ParkerJohn Lankester Parker OBE FRAeS Hon. MSLAE was Chief Test Pilot for Short Brothers from 1918 until his retirement in 1945. He joined Shorts in 1916 as a part-time test pilot and assistant to then Chief Test Pilot Ronald Kemp, having been recommended for the post by Captain, later Admiral Sir,...
1918–1945 - Geoffrey Dyson 1945–1946
- Harold Piper 1946–1948
- Tom Brooke-Smith 1948–1960
- Denis Tayler 1960–1969
- Donald Burn Wright 1969–1976
- Lindsay Cummings
- Allan Deacon
- Graham Andrews
See also
- Aerospace industry in the United Kingdom
- CanadairCanadairCanadair Ltd. was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer in Canada. It was a subsidiary of other aircraft manufacturers, then a nationalized corporation until privatized in 1986, and became the core of Bombardier Aerospace....
- de Havilland CanadaDe Havilland CanadaThe de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. company was an aircraft manufacturer with facilities based in what is now the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
- Learjet
- Bombardier AerospaceBombardier AerospaceBombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc. and is the third-largest airplane manufacturer in the world. It is headquartered in Dorval, Quebec, Canada.- History :...
External links
- RAF Museum Aircraft Thesaurus (Shorts)
- Horace Short bio and artwork depiction by Michael Garland
- Eustace Short biography & sketching by Michael Garland
- Oswald Short biography & sketch by Michael Garland
- grave of Horace Short; findagrave
- grave of Albert Eustace Short; findagrave