Flying the STRANGEST-LOOKING PLANE EVER? Short Skyvan in Innisfail, Alberta (4K)
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- čas přidán 18. 09. 2021
- A few weeks ago, this Short SC.7 Skyvan was doing a couple of skydiving flights out of Innisfail, a small town just south of Red Deer.
The company running the skydives was offering "observer flights" where I could tag along to fly onboard for just $95, and I knew I had to take the opportunity!
Here's what flying on the Skyvan is like!
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FLIGHT INFORMATION
Airline: Nomad Air
Aircraft: Short SC.7 Skyvan (SC7)
Seat: Copilot
Livery: White with RCAF lightning bolt stripe
Engines: 2x Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-2-201A
Registration: C-GTBU
Route: Innisfail (CEM4) - Innisfail (CEM4)
Callsign: Skyvan Tango Bravo Uniform
Runway used: 16
Date filmed: September 2021
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Intro/outro song - "Take Flight" by Nyhtian: • Nyhtian - Take Flight ...
© Alex Praglowski Aviation 2021
This video is the property of Alex Praglowski Aviation and may not be used for any purpose without prior permission. Contact me at the email in the "About" section of my channel for usage.
I have flown this type of Skyvan. It flys a lot like it looks. We described it as "the box the Twin Otter came in." :)
Ha ha...
What's a twin otter?! Inside joke I spose
Lol that's perfect!
She's uh....quite stubby and chunky
@@aborted4196 The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a very prolific Canadian twin engined turboprop that came out around the same time as the Skyvan, however it looks much more sleek and is still in production today owing to its capability to land and take off basically anywhere, water, ice, even on crazy short runways.
I love this plane... I love designs where form follows function. Given how practical it is I was surprised at how few were actually built.
I love this plane, it's rough, tough and ready. I always thought Ryan Air would reboot the production, with this, they'd just need to load pax on pallets, and exchange pallets at airports, and in business class, a parachute is included.
The low numbers were in large part because other similar practical aircraft were also in production, including Shorts own larger follow-on 330 and 360/C-23 models, Casa’s Aviocar, Dornier’s 228, and de Havilland’s Twin Otter (still in production). Plus at the time there were still a lot of older airframes still available.
Over taken by the later Shorts 330/360.
The body itself looks as if it would give lift.
I would have greatly over-guessed the number built. Learned of Skyvan while a child in the 1970s & saying "I really like that little airplane" with its motorhome style front doors was about the extent I ever followed up on learning about it.
Super cool video Alex, Definitely different! I’m probably in the minority here, but I actually really like how the skyvan looks!
Thank you Nate! I agree, just from some specific angles only 😂
Yes great video, beautiful plane.
Designed entirely for function not looks.
That gives it a certain good look all of its own.
It's the most minimalist C130.
I like it too but I’ve always been a fan of quirky utilitarian aircraft :-)
@Nate 707 You're not the only one who thinks that. Form follows function. If a machine works as designed then it's beautiful.
One of the safest aircraft ever built. U S Air used them on short feeder routes in the late '70s. I loved flying on them, and well remember the noise and vibration. My most memorable flight was on Christmas weekend 1979, from Philadelphia to Reading, PA. It was in the days of air traffic control overload and ATC delays; we had already missed our connecting flight as our Nashville flight was ATC delayed into Philly, so we were rebooked on the last flight. The FAA declined to issue an IFR flight plan approval, citing workload, so the pilot got a takeoff clearance VFR. It had snowed, we traced the Schuylkill River all the way to Reading at 500 feet AGL, enjoying the spectacle of all the Christmas lights on a pure white background.
I was a Patrol Officer in Papua New Guinea in the 70’s . The Skyvan was invaluable due to it’s load carrying capacity and STOL. Fond memories of it touching down on the often very remote airstrips. Thanks for the Vid.
Short Brothers flying speed brake -- Used to maintain one at the Centennial (Arapaho County Airport) Back in the late 70's early 80's -- We took ours to Sturgis bike week in 79, landed in a field where the Buffalo Chip is now. Unloaded three Harleys and rode into town the same day as the riot in the Sturgis park. Now the weirdest part -- I became an FAA Inspector in 86 and later the Manager at the Rapid City Flight Standards District Office in 2007. While settling in I found an old file where the FAA was looking for the people who flew the airplane so they could violate the pilot. I guess I had to turn myself in huh !!!! I kept the file and when I feel froggie I dig it out and have a great laugh. Daja Vu Vu
I like the homage to the old CAF lightning bolt on the sides, of this rare aircraft. Fun video.
In the 1980’s I was a flight attendant on Short SD330 (30 passenger) a/c among others. I did not like that thing one little bit. Thank goodness most of the flights were only 30 to 45 minutes. A lot of great memories from my f/a days but not very many of them were in the Short. Thanks for the video 👍
@macscotsman51 >>> I have never flown in any Short Bros. aircraft, although I have flown a few times in a CASA 212.
What did you dislike about the Skyvan?
There was a commuter airline flying the Shorts 330 between Bradford and Pittsburgh PA for a few years back in the late 70's-early 80's. I really enjoyed riding in them. The squared-off cabins weren't as claustrophobic as the Beech 1900's that replaced them. The noise level seemed to be higher, and you really knew that those turboprop engines were the only thing standing between you and the cornfields below. And yes, these were relatively short 45 minute flights. I imagine being a flight attendant on one for 8 hours a day with 5 or 6 flights would have worn thin quickly.
I concur. I once attended a job interview in the Isle Of Man. The return flight was from Blackpool Airport. I cannot recall if the air craft was a 330 or a 360, but it was indeed a noisy bastard!
In 80's I used to fly as a passenger from Luton airport in UK to Belfast city in these a long bumpy flight. I thought they were originally built for US military in Europe as a flying truck?
7:15 it is cool to see the trim changes with the loss of the cargo
My father was apparently "apprenticed" to Short Brothers at age 14 (early 1950's) and went on to get his degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Cambridge in 59/60.
Lucky man !
My father also worked at Shorts at the same time, wonder if they knew each other.
That was amazing! Best place to be a passenger is the right seat!
I live in N Ireland and remember when the Skyvans were first built in Belfast. I worked in Thailand in the '80s and Thai Airways used Skyvans for domestic flights. I flew often from Bangkok to the provincial capital of Nan while working in a refugee camp on the Laotian border.
These aircraft were made in Belfast where I lived as a child and saw them being test flown just all the time. I lived across the street from Short Brothers other activity - rocket engine development! We heard them being tested from time to time. I flew on a SD 330 a few times across the Irish Sea and yes, they're horrendously noisy! They may be noisy and a pig to fly but they've got terrific character and it's nice to see there are still a few in service. Thanks for showing us mate.
You may call this aircraft a shoebox, or a packing box, whatever you like. But 3 or 4 years ago I was making a market study, and it is still in demand! For anyone who values sturdiness and reliability, a great cargo capacity and excellent take-off/landing performance more than comfort this is the thing!
My grandfather worked on those and actually carried out the tests on that exact aircraft
My dad worked on the assembly line in Belfast, late 60s I think. Used to have a complete assembly manual in the house, which I regret to say I used as a colouring book when I was small. Would love to still have it.
@@jockmcallister I would get the blueprints and restart making them...
Ditto, G father also worked on the skyvan series in his later years, he also worked on the Short Belfast and the SC1.
My G Father also worked on the production line, along with his brother, he used to give me posters and stuff of this, and the 330, 360, etc, all in around the 60 and 70's,
If i can remember right, he moved to work in the Aircraft factory, from the shipyard, Harland and Wolff, sometime in the 50's.
Lovely to see this again. Thank you Alex. My late father-in-law was the production controller of this aircraft, the slightly bigger SD330 and, considering its origins, the rather more elegant SD360.
Short-field landing coming in right over the trees, love this view and so so worth it for the price!
Never flew on the Skyvan but did get a ride in a 330. The Irish Concorde! What a fine machine.
Irish Concorde, Lol! New one on me!
About 35 years ago, these were in service between LAX and Santa Barbara/Goleta CA. Used as a commuter to ferry passengers between those location. Passenger boarding was carefully "orchestrated" in order to preclude violation of CG limits. Flew in these a number of times to attend program reviews at a major Defense contractor in Santa Barbara.
Thanks, Alex. That was terrific!
I made a bunch of jumps from a skyvan back in the 90's. I loved that "flying boxcar" for jumping with my students. Exiting was so easy. Hearing the sound of those engines again was wonderful. Thanks!
Love those quirky Short Brothers aircraft!
Awesome plane. Thank you so much for sharing the experience.
One of my favorite videos of yours. Thanks for sharing the experience.
What a hoot to fly this type! Thanks for taking us up !!!
In the early 1990s I commuted quite a bit between Belfast and Edinburgh on 330s or 360s being flown by Loganair. Brilliant little aircraft, but not the biggest, of course. One wag I was travelling with pointed out the irony that Loganair was staffing its narrow-bodied aircraft with wide-bodied stewardesses! Some of the girls were, it must be admitted, well fed, but they were all Belles and first class at their jobs. Happy memories. One chap I used to work with had worked at Shorts (Belfast) in the 1970s on, I think, the 330s (wings or fuel tanks) - he said that the 330 was essentially 30,000 rivets flying in loose formation! Best wishes, DM.
CFB Comox has had one of Nomad Air’s Skyvans here the last few years, when the SarTechs are training. You can see them jumping from the plane regularly when they’re here. The plane is pretty cool, but the props make a really loud relentless drone when they’re flying around the Valley.
Love it. I was a first officer on the Short 3-60 (skyvan’s big brother) for a couple of years in Scotland in the 90s so this took me right back. Cool plane, thanks.
Nice one! The oldet plane I ever flew on was an Antonov An-2 built in the late 1940's. That was in 2017. Quite an adventure! If I recall that correctly, it had previously been in service with the GDR's air force.
Back in 1981, I was traveling and needed to fly to a certain town. I wound up, on the Hop, Skip and Jump trip. One of the planes I flew on, was a Shorts 330. Puddle jumper flight. This plane had lots of headroom. More than any other passenger aircraft, I've seen. It was a smooth flight, as well. That was the only time, I flew on a Shorts.
That looked like an epic flight. Thought a jetliner is pretty incredible, its neat to see these other aircraft in use.
Wonderful to watch, brings back many great memories. Had the opportunity to worked on the Sky Vans and flown many hrs in them.
Listening to both Garret engines sounds. Can still smell the flying C-Can.
Tremendously enjoyable. What a cool little plane. Thanks for such a fine report!
Having watched almost all of your vids over the years, believe it or not -- this is my favorite! Thanks.
That bought back some wonderful memories (jumping).
Really is a wonderful aircraft. I love them.
Thank you.
Haven’t seen one of those in a while. My grandpa was an A&P and CFI, and one of the guys that he did work for owned a couple that were leased to skydiving centers as well and I have seen them at a local skydiving center (Raeford NC , USA) but it’s been many years since I’ve seen them. Pretty cool video man.
Fantastic little aircraft. I worked at Shorts for a little while, and remember watching 330s doing great landings in terrible crosswinds. I never saw a Skyvan though. Nice video. Thanks.
Brilliant video thanks Alex, good value for money. Look forward to more unusual aircraft videos hopefully.
Neat! Thanks, Alex. Shorts' always look like they are built like a boat to me. How fun!
So unique. That was a fun watch! Thanks for sharing.
Wow. that was awesome. Thanks for that! Always loved the Skyvan and it's big brother, the 330.
Thank you for this experience love your site and what you do.
Looks like as awesome experience, thank you for another great video!
Every skydivers bucket list plane - loved my jumps out of it.
I love all the first class amenities on this beast! All the comforts of home
Great video! I can still remember the TimeAir and Pacific Coastal, Short 360 flying in and out of YVR 😁
Fantastic experience Alex!
Wow, that would have been quite a buzz !
That plane really did made fast approach back to the ground, especially the last few 100 metres or so !
Phenomenal video work here. Especially with the really long lens towards the end. Thanks!
Very interesting, thanks for having shared this. Excellent plane for going skydiving, indeed
Thanks for sharing!
Neat aircraft, first time ever hearing about/seeing it.
Astonishing plane, beautiful!
With the ear buds in my ears that takeoff role was a symphony
I have it on reasonably good authority that the Skyvan legacy is that it's tyres (if not wheels) are fitted to the only flying example of the Bristol Blenheim that is based at RAF Duxford in the UK Apparently they are the only aircraft that share the tyre size.
The Bolingbroke that was being restored at Mount Hope (Hamilton) has apparently been relegated to a non flying restoration. Shame. It would have been nice to have two Blenheim's/Bolingbrokes airworthy.
For $95 bucks, I would be thrilled to fly beside the pilot. Unique and so cool!!!
Very cool aircraft. Thank you for taking me along.
Awesome, thanks for sharing
Neat to see the pitch angle change as each skydiver exited. Especially the tandem jumpers.
I work in Shorts in Belfast, so good to see there are still a few of these old birds in the air!
That was great, thanks for sharing. C-GKOA has flown over where I live in the UK a few times, certainly a distinctive shape!
I got to fly in a Skyvan back in 2001 from TLH-JAX-TLH on a cargo flight. Very loud inside but performance was crazy.
It's a wombat with wings, both tough and adorable. And still flying since the late 60s.
I flew on one a couple of times out on the West Coast of California. I think it was either from San Diego to Los Angeles, or John Wayne Airport to Los Angeles back in the late ‘70’s/early ‘80’s.
I loved seeing the RCAF looking stripe on the side of the airplane.
Dale and Rovic are the best! Pretty civilized for these guys, usually a gravel strip in the mountains.
So lucky! I’ve always wanted a ride on a Shorts. Never had the chance yet.
They were a staple of channel island flights when I lived in Jersey and USAir Express operated quite a few out of PHL back in the day so have been on many Shorts 360
They used to fly heavily out of O'Hare on Missouri Valley Airlines, later "American Eagle." I flew on a Shorts 360 (the single-tail version of the SkyVan) on a from ORD to DBQ (Dubuque, Iowa) and back again. Most fun flight...ever! I don't think we ever got above 10,000' and we puttered along at somewhere around 200MPH. Beautiful flying. But on the ground, the ride was...stiff... You felt ever bump and seam in the tarmac.
They were the backbone of local bulk hauling ops on the Yukon - Kuskokwim Delta when I was flying there in the early 90s. I used to see them working out of the same 1300'-1800' gravel village strips that I was going into with Cessna 207s and 172s. What a fabulous little beast of a plane the "box the Twin Otter came in"/"Twin-tailed dumpster" is! I'd love to turn one into a flying recreational vehicle someday! 🤓
I flew PIC for Simmons airlines back in the early 1980s. The aircraft was the SD3-60, 36 pax configuration. I liked the aircraft, I always felt protected by the boxxy brutish airframe with wing struts. It felt like it had the heart of a flying tank. This tank came complete with a flight attendant to bring us refreshments. How quaint it felt.
Beautiful!
THANK YOU. Brilliant video & what a wonderful aircraft ;-)
Thanks for the memories. I have 3,000 hrs on them with Summit Airlines back in the late 70s
How can you not love it? ❤
Nice! Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE JUMPING SKYVANS! My first Wingsuit dive was from one.
Great Video!!! This aircraft might not have elegant lines, but it is definitely a great plane!!! Lots of skydiving flights are made out of airports that I worked at in the past... Many are made with the DeHaviland Caribou's, equipped with the turbo-prop engines, and many are made with these planes... They are real performers!!!
Cool as always, Alex!
As a kid my neighbour was on the design team for these things. I also flew on them a lot as they were among the cheapest/easiest way to get from NI to England. Some even carried cars over.
Great film, excellent photography as well!
Family helped build it love it thank you
Great video Alex. I remember flying YYC to YQL in a Short SD-300 back in the 80s(?) with Time Air.
Alex thanks for a great find she's been around. Really caught my eye because I'm certain American Eagle used to fly a number of these but I cant find any record of it. Was working in Texas and a piece of equipment we needed short notice was delivered to DFW in one of these, not something a pilot forgets.
Great work keep them coming please.
I was on American Eagle flights on them out of BMI or some other nearby Illinois airports in the 1980s, maybe DEC or CMI? Always to/from ORD I think.
Very fun! Great Av unique. coverage.
Fascinating. Love the Skyvan. Great to see it from the cockpit. Long takeoff run it seems.
When fully loaded it takes a long run to get airborne, and a long slow climb. It's top speed in the climb is not much above 100Kts @ around 1000 ft per minute. Surprisingly, it has a quite fast touchdown speed of about 90 kts.
Very cool Alex!!!
It's a beauty!
Really well done video with all the phases of flight a real Buff is interested in. Thanks (and you did it with no stupid during-video music so that we could hear the engines like we were there!)
I serviced Skyvans in the Middle East in the early 80s. As you say, not the cutest of aeroplanes but boy, was it capable! Short field performance was incredible, especially at some of the 'hot and high' outstations. I was left with a very healthy respect for the type.
Nicely done and so well presented.
Thanks for sharing. My Grandfather was a "fitter" at Shorts during the 60's so I'm sure he worked on this plane when built.
Neat video! These used to fly between Parkersburg WV ("Wood County International") and Pittsburgh PA. Flew one of these to Pittsburgh and back once. Primitive at best. My first flight was on a Martin 404, which was smooth and quiet by comparison. Still, the Shoebox was a great plane!
It's been many many moons, but we had an ex-USAFE C-23 Sherpa at Morristown NJ flying for
the US Army. It's been moved decades ago now, but was a fascinating machine. From memory
it was a bit larger than Nomad Air's bird.
There was a bulkhead behind the flight deck where the flight engineer had a seat by the cargo bay.
I also remember that they mounted a port-a-potty on the left side cargo door . They also had a winch in the rear that they
used to load heavy cargo . They also had to jack the
fuselage just forward of the ramp to keep the plane from tilting during the winching operation.
Now the last thing I remembered involved refueling. This aircraft had put quite a few hours on
during USAF operations in Europe before the Army got it. The fuel controls for the single point
were in the back of the left wheel "pant". The problem being that when it got topped off, the
shut off valves didn't always work. Since the fuel vented right over the head of the fueler, much
colorful language was heard after the Jet-A shower at the end of the fueling. :).
My favorite skydiving plane. It's just perfect.
What a nifty bird for skydivers. Glad you got a chance to take us with you.
There was a commercial passenger variant, the Skybus. It was a popular choice for flights to the various islands around us, in the British Isles. My ( very new) wife had her first flight on one, when we flew from Gatwick to Guernsey for our Honeymoon. It was supremely stable and comfortable. Our return was in a Vickers Viscount - not /officially/ STOL-capable unless in the right hands.
Seeing photos and videos of Short Bros. aircraft always reminds me of the expression, _"Taking it in the SHORTS"._
😊😊😊
That approach from the cockpit view was so cool!
This is my favorite plane!
As I am making a flying version of the Skyvan this video has been invaluable. And it's a good watch. Cheers.
Great video! I had my first flight on a Skyvan in mid 80s, in the cockpit! (some jumpsit on the left of the captain). Olympic airways operated them in Greece back then!
The Summit Air Skyvans in the UK are on contract to UK Ministry of Defence for basic paratroop training (cheaper than C130 !).
Based at RAF Brize Norton near Oxford. They mainly use the DZ at RAF Weston on the Green but can be seen elsewhere in the UK occasionally.
Great workhorse, built in Belfast by Shorts, a friend of mine was a shop-floor foreman in the factory. I have flown on the stretch version of this to many destinations in the UK. Very reliable aircraft used all over the world, to the best of my knowledge no-one has has ever lost their life in an accident in this plane, I remember one in England somewhere and everyone walked away. Did tend to buck about a bit in high winds, hence people in Northern Ireland called them the Vomit Comet!.