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General
The Sherpa is also known as the Shorts 330 or SD330. It is an unpressurized commuter/ regional airliner that was developed from the Skyvan utilizing that aircraft’s fuselage cross-section and tail and a high wing. The 330 utilizes twin Pratt and Whitney PT6A-45 turboprop engines. The gross weight is 22,900 pounds.
The Sherpa is 12 feet 5 inches longer than the Skyvan and has a
retractable undercarriage. It was first put into service in 1974.
Less than one hundred 330’s were built. At the 1998 Shorts Operators
Conference the manufacturer estimated that 79 are still in
operation. While some 330’s did go into military or government use,
most of the standard 330 aircraft have been operating in a
commercial environment. The Sherpa is a military version of the 330
and is equipped with a rear-loading ramp
similar to that of the Skyvan. |
