Summary
Short Brothers’ unmistakable “shed with wings” lineage started with the square-section SC.7 Skyvan of 1963, whose capacious cabin and clamshell rear doors quickly endeared it to militaries and skydivers. Building on that formula, Belfast engineers stretched the design into the 30-seat Short 330, which first flew on 22 August 1974 and entered service in 1976.
Eleven years later the longer, 39-seat Short 360 followed, its single fin replacing the 330’s twin end-plates and a 3 ft fuselage plug adding two extra seat-rows. Both variants shared rugged fixed gear, PT6A engines and remarkable short-field ability
The 1980s–90s heyday
Eduard Marmet.Russavia at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
The timing was perfect. Under the United States’ commuter-airline regulations, 30-seat types qualified for essential-air-service subsidies, and regional carriers flocked to the new turboprop. By the early 1990s more than 300 aircraft—around 140 330s and 165 360s—were shuttling passengers, from Canada’s prairies to the Caribbean, from the Scottish Isles to Australia’s outback. Nicknames such as “the boxcar”, “the truck” or simply “the Shed” were affectionate nods to an unpressurised cabin that looked basic but could swallow an astonishing payload.
Outgunned but unbowed
Pressurised, faster 30- to 50-seat turboprops (like the Dornier 328, Saab 340, EMB-120) and regional jets eventually pushed the Shorts out of first-line service. Production ended in 1991 and retirements accelerated once fuel prices rose and noise rules tightened. By the mid-2010s only a few dozen examples were active; today the 330 survives solely as a freighter, while the 360 clings on in a few niche passenger and cargo roles.
Where you can still buy a ticket on a Short 360 (Summer 2025)
You can still fly on a Short 360 in 2025
| Region | Airline | Base | Aircraft | Notes |
| Middle East | Ayit Aviation & Tourism | Be’er Sheva-Teyman, Israel | 1 × 360-300 (4X-AVP) | IDF charters and ad-hoc tourist flights, bookable directly with the airline. |
| Caribbean | Pineapple Air | Nassau, Bahamas | 1 × 360-300 (C6-BUS) | Flies between Nassau, Crooked Island and Long Island; schedules appear a few weeks in advance. |
Tip: timetables change frequently and seats are limited, so always confirm with the carrier before planning a trip.
Freight-dog stalwarts
If you only want to see or hear a Shorts in action, head for the cargo ramps:
- Air Cargo Carriers – Milwaukee-based specialist operating the world’s largest Shorts fleet (over 25 330s/360s) on UPS, FedEx and DHL feeder runs across the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
- Trans Air (Hawaii) – Four 360-300s haul inter-island freight nightly from Honolulu; one suffered a gear-up landing this June but the rest soldier on.
- Skyway Enterprises – Florida operator still lists three 360-200Fs on contract work around the southeast U.S. (routes vary).
- Air Flamenco – Puerto Rican carrier employs at least two 360-300Fs for parcels and occasional charter hops to the Virgin Islands.
What about the Skyvan?
A Short Skyvan. Photo (c) Geoff Collins
The smaller SC.7 Skyvan—instantly recognisable by its clamshell tail—remains a favourite jump-ship. Civil skydiving centres in Europe, the U.S. and Australasia still use half-a-dozen airframes, and militaries from Austria to Indonesia operate a handful for utility work. No scheduled airlines, however, list the Skyvan today.
Why the Shorts endure
Love them or loathe them, the Shorts airliners have endured the test of time for a few simple reasons. Namely:
- Rugged simplicity – Fixed gear and the PT6A’s legendary reliability keep maintenance cheap on rough strips.
- Cargo-friendly – A near-square cross-section and low floor make loading cartons or stretchers a breeze.
- Short-field champ – 450 m (1,500 ft) runways are routine, opening markets inaccessible to ATRs or Dash 8s.
- Community affection – For remote islands or mining towns the “shed” still does exactly what is asked of it.
Fly them while you can – Last Chance to Fly
If the thought of ticking off a flight on the Short 360 (or dozens of other endangered airliners) sets your prop-geek heart racing, grab a copy of our book Last Chance to Fly. It’s the definitive, regularly updated guide to every rare passenger type still earning its keep, packed with operator details, spotting tips and route maps.
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Don’t let the shed roll into retirement without you—join today and get your copy before the next one disappears! 🛫
