Short C-23 Sherpa

The Short C-23 Sherpa is a small military transport aircraft built by <a href="/facts/Short_Brothers/hWJEn0u2">Short Brothers</a>. It was designed to operate from unpaved runways and make <a href="/facts/STOL/8eEcKYEz">short takeoff and landings (STOL)</a>. It features a large squared fuselage with a full-width rear cargo door/ramp. The C-23A and C-23B are variants of the <a href="/facts/Short_330/W3vXCSHT">Short 330</a> and the C-23B+ is a variant of the <a href="/facts/Short_360/JcgV2zD4">Short 360</a>. 60 aircraft were used, it was finally retired from US Army in 2014, but remains in international service. Although it went on to be used for other uses, it was originally the winner of an early 1980s competition for a light cargo aircraft to deliver cargo, especially aviation parts in Western Europe (EDSA). While the C-23 was a new production, as was the C-23B, the C-23B+ were actually Shorts 360, with the tail and rear fuselage of a C-23. One of the differences between the C-23 and C-23B, is that the latter had cabin windows. The aircraft has a substantial amount of civilian use and was also operated by the U.S. Forestry Service and NASA. The aircraft continues in service with the Philippines and Djibouti, as well as various civilian and governmental agencies, though many aircraft have been retired.
The Short C-23 Sherpa was part of family of small to mid-sized twin turbo prop transport aircraft developed in the late 20th century, starting with Short Skyvan, Short 330, and the Short 360. The C-23 was based on the Short 330, and the C-23B+ was based on the Short 360. The original C-23 had very specific purpose, to resupply airfields in Western Europe during the Cold War and entered service in the 1980s. However, it went on afterwards to serve in many different roles. The company that made the aircraft, Short Brothers, was bought by Bombardier in 1989; it was one the earliest commercial aviation companies (founded in 1908). 
Short Brothers produced the C-23 from 1984 to 1997.

Short C-23 Sherpa open-in-new

Short C-23 Sherpa