Shorts 360/330

Ben Air’s OY-MUG or her sister OY-PBW are usually out-stationed at Belfast International in December to help with the Christmas parcel loads to / from Edinbirgh. Lovely to have them back in their home country, if 30 miles from the correct airport.

The NightExpress 360s that markb mentions also occasionally visit Dublin at unearthly hours of the morning.

The 330 ‘preserved’ by the UAS is indeed under cover but in pretty rotten condition particuarly inside, not sexy enough for much attention compared to Canberra and Phantom. Last time I visited their hangars the guide actually walked past the 330 without mentioning it…

At least three 360s are regular visitors to the UK. D-CRAS and D-CAAS are both operated by NightExpress out of Frankfurt. One (usually D-CRAS) comes to Coventry five nights a week. The one spotted at Aberdeen would have been OY-MUG, which carries out mail flights in Scotland most nights. Others are still flying in the Caribbean, mainland US and Hawaii. There are also quite a few Skyvans still flying, mainly for parachute drops.

The only aeroplane I’ve ever flown where the pilots didn’t get a window seat!

I flew into Manchester with Gill air back in the late eighties,when we landed I was deaf as a post in both ears for most of the day,it was very painful.the aircraft was G-BHHU.
Later I flew on 360 G-DASI,and G-TBAC.,I did my work experience at Gill,helping to change port engine and complete engine runs,I think this was on G-OGIL,which a few years later I helped dismantle for her journey to NEAM,then reassemble.i do have a soft spot for the old shed!

This thread made me look at my passenger logbook and I see I did a day return to Belfast Harbour from Luton back in March 1989. It was in Capital’s Shorts 360 G-OLGW. I seem to remember the pilot apologising that he had to climb to 11000 ft to avoid some weather. Didn’t half make my ears pop. It must have been on the limit of legality without oxygen. As others have said, it was not a comfortable ride.

At least 1 flier was in the UK early today….

I admit I spotted D-CRAS on FR24 but it exists :rolleyes:
Tim S

Yes indeed, I arrived into Aberdeen at about 21:00 last night and a 360 was on the stand!!

A touch of faded ‘elegance’ in the colours worn, can’t recall the operator.

Aaah! Memories of both 330 and 360(luxury!) on several flights with Air UK in the mid eighties.:)

I used to use the inter-island Trislander a bit before I got my PPL. It was OK but did depend where in the thing you sat (noise and worry factor about the prop disc). Some of the pilots were a bit ‘exuberant’ and the landings could be a bit exciting, turning final at 100′ and dropping on the numbers to get the shortest taxi and time to the stand. A couple of the aero club instructors were (are?) ex-Aurigny Trislander hacks, and they thoroughly enjoyed flying them, but they were quirky aircraft to operate by all counts.

But at the time it was that or a Trislander.

Funny you mentioned the Trislander, I flew in one once and thanked God when I was back on the ground.

That said I get the impression that in keeping with all unpressurised aircraft they were hard on passengers when being flown in poor air conditions.

Worst commercial flight I ever had was on the JEA shed from Jersey to Bristol. It was like sitting in a clapped out bus on a rutted earth track road. No drinks on that flight as they’d have been on the floor and the descent into Bristol from 8000′ was at such a RoD I lost the hearing in one ear for several hours.

Hateful aircraft, although a friend who flew for Aurigny loved ‘his’ shed. But at the time it was that or a Trislander.

My abiding memory of the ‘360’ is seeing a whole line of them sporting the American Eagle colour scheme at Chicago O’Hare nearly 30 years ago. In its way it was a very impressive sight. That said I get the impression that in keeping with all unpressurised aircraft they were hard on passengers when being flown in poor air conditions.

I have attached various images from my archive of the Skyvan, the UAS 330 during its move back in 2006 and some 360 images taken at Sydenham. I would love to see one of each of these home grown types preserved and on regular display in Northern Ireland. However assuming that one of each type could be brought together, I still wonder whether Northern Ireland could support a professionally run museum with all its attendant operating costs given the small population of Northern Ireland. From what I am told a study carried out some years ago indicated that it was not.

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Hope you like the pictures.

https://planefinder.net/data/aircraft/D-CRAS

A regular visitor no doubt. Odd that the illustraition shows D-CCAS?

At least 1 flier was in the UK early today….

I admit I spotted D-CRAS on FR24 but it exists :rolleyes:
Tim S

Wolds Gliding Club at Pocklington used to use the fuselage of 330 OY-MUB, I don’t know if they still do.

The RAF Manston History Museum has the nose of G-SSWP, A Short 330-100 on display, she double up as the museums Galley!

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The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum also have the nose section of Shorts 360 G-BKMW on display next to the SC.1
I think there’s also a 330 preserved in Thailand (Royal Thai Army)

Thanks for that vid. don’t blink or you might miss it near the end! Interesting that S/N 84-0471US, c/n SH-3118. N567WW belongs to Richland County Sherriff’s Department. Richland is in Ohio, wonder why they would need such an aircraft, prisoner transport?

One turned up at Oshkosh

excuse the new stuff in the video….. But the ex US Army one N567WW… is near the active runway when the new shiney thing called Lightning lands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WFP2hMBo8I

I remember these things landing and taking off on Tiree. Surprised to see they are now ‘historic’. Time marches on!

G-SSWO was sorted out by my mate Chris – he’s the headmaster! 🙂

G-SSWO pictured a couple of years ago – nearly made it into the Notts Memorial booklet! 😉