Short Empire / S.23

Empire / S.23

Short S.23, S.30 и S.33 Empire

   По сравнению с большими и громоздкими летающими лодками-бипланами компании "Short Brothers" самолет S.23, появившийся в 1936 году, был совершенно иной конструкции. Он имел четыре двигателя Bristol Pegasus XC мощностью 920 л.с. и конструктивно являлся свободнонесущим цельнометаллическим высокопланом с корпусом обтекаемой формы. Максимальная скорость составляла 322 км/ч, то есть на 42 км/ч больше, чем у стоявшего тогда на вооружении британских ВВС истребителя-биплана Bristol Bulldog.
   Характеристики машины казались столь многообещающими, что "Imperial Airways" заказала 28 машин. В то время британское правительство решило, что вся почта первого класса должна доставляться по воздуху, поэтому самолеты, назначенные для почтовых перевозок, получили название Empire или класс "C" ("C" - class). Первый S.23, названный "Canopus", вылетел из Рочестера в июле 1936 года и поступил в эксплуатацию в начале сентября.
   Каждый последующий самолет поступал к заказчику с интервалом в две недели. Машины базировались в Хите и использовались на маршрутах "Imperial Airways" для полетов в Австралию, Дурбан, Египет, Малайю, Нью-Йорк, на Бермуды, а также в Восточную и Южную Африку. Базовая вместимость самолетов - 1361 кг почты и 24 пассажира днем или 16 пассажиров ночью, однако увеличение массы почты на 454 кг уменьшало число пассажиров до 17 человек. Трансатлантические полеты без полезной нагрузки, проведенные в 1937 году, показали, что S.23 не был экономически выгодным на всех расстояниях, что в итоге привело к созданию Short-Mayo Composite (описан отдельно).

   Кроме того, были проведены испытания по дозаправке в воздухе с использованием самолета Armstrong Whitworth 23 в качестве танкера. Успех этих испытаний привел к заключению контракта с компанией сэра Алана Кобхема, "Flight Refuelling Ltd", которая с помощью четырех самолетов-заправщиков Handley Page Harrow совершила до начала войны 16 успешных трансатлантических перелетов с дозаправкой в воздухе. Еще три S.23 в 1938 году были поставлены "Qantas Empire Airways", которая до того получила три машины от "Imperial Airways". Несмотря на потерю восьми летающих лодок во время аварий за первые два года эксплуатации, S.23 вошли в число одних из наиболее успешных самолетов своем классе в предвоенный период.
   Следом за S.23 появились лодки S.30, которые использовались для перевозки почты на трансатлантических маршрутах при обеспечении их заправкой от воздушных танкеров Harrow. Последним вариантом стал S.33 с двигателями Bristol Pegasus XC мощностью 920 л. с. Общее производство самолетов Empire составило 42 машины, включая 31 S.23, девять S.30 и две S.33 (постройка третьей S.33 была отменена).
   Несколько S.23 в годы войны были реквизированы для службы в британских ВВС. Из них два были модифицированы в вариант S.23M - с бортовой РЛС для обнаружения надводных целей (ASV) и вооружением, состоявшим из двух турелей по четыре пулемета в каждой и шести глубинных бомб. Войну пережили 13 самолетов семейства Empire, они оснащались на тот момент двигателями Bristol Pegasus мощностью по 1010 л. с. Самолеты были переданы компании "QANTAS" и эксплуатировались до 1947 года.
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ТАКТИКО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

   Short S.23

   Тип: пассажирская/почтовая летающая лодка
   Силовая установка: четыре звездообразных ПД Bristol Pegasus XC мощностью по 920 л. с. (686 кВт)
   Летные характеристики: макс. скорость 322 км/ч; практический потолок 6095 м; дальность 1223 км
   Масса: пустого 10 659 кг; максимальная взлетная 18370 кг
   Размеры: размах крыла 34,75 м; длина 26,82 м; высота 9,70 м; площадь крыла 139,35 м2

Flight, October 1938

British Commercial Aircraft

SHORT

   EIGHT new flying boats, modified versions of the four-engined Empire type which has contributed so largely to the initial success of the all-up Empire air mail scheme, are now coming through the Short works at Rochester. The first, Champion, is practically complete, and Cabot, which is scheduled for an Atlantic flight this autumn, is following close behind. The remainder of the boats should emerge at fortnightly intervals.
   The new boats have been strengthened to carry increased loads in comparison with the standard Empire type, which has an all-up weight as a passenger carrier of 40,500 lb. Champion has the same power plant as the earlier boats - four Bristol Pegasus Xc radials - but will operate at a weight of 45,000 lb. Cabot and the rest are fitted with four Perseus XIIC sleeve-valve radials, and will fly at a weight of 53,000 lb. All these latter craft are designed for air refuelling.
   It was lately announced that orders have been placed with the Short Company for several new landplanes of more than 31 tons gross weight. One machine will be built with a pressure cabin, and should cruise at about 250 m.p.h. for 3,000 miles.
   New flying boats weighing about three-quarters as much again as the standard Empire type are also under construction. These machines will have four of the new Bristol Hercules two-row sleeve-valve engines.
   The standard Empire boat, as now in operation, has a wing embodying a central girder built up of two spars of hiduminium extruded sections braced by tubes and connected by former ribs. The flaps are of the Gouge "dragless" type. The two-step hull has closely spaced rings and continuous stringers. Counter-sunk riveting is used throughout.
   For daylight operation the boat carries a crew of five, twenty-four passengers, baggage, and a ton and a half of mail. Sixteen passengers can be accommodated by night, although the sleeper version is not in regular use.
   Short Empire Flying Boat data are : - Span, 114ft.; length, 88ft.; wing area, 1,500 sq. ft.; weight, empty, 24,000 lb.; all-up weight 40,500 lb.; top speed, 200 m.p.h.; maximum cruising speed, 164 m.p.h.; minimum flying speed, 73 m.p.h.; absolute ceiling, 20,000ft.; take-off with full load, 21 sec.; and range, 810 miles.
Makers:- Short Bros. (Rochester and Bedford), Ltd., Rochester, Kent.

Flight, November 1939

Britain's Civil Aircraft

SHORT

ONE of the most successful commercial aircraft ever produced is the Short Empire type of flying boat as built for Imperial Airways. The standard version of this machine weighs 40,500 lb. and has a top speed of 200 m.p.h. Developments of this boat, incorporating aerial refuelling gear, are strengthened lor take-off weight of 46,000 lb. and are able to be refuelled up to a total weight of 53.000 lb., thus being easily capable of making transatlantic flights. These machines have Bristol Perseus sleeve-valve engines, whereas the original Empire boats had Pegasus.

Short Bros. (Rochester and Bedford). Ltd., Rochester, Kent.

ON THE BRIDGE: The control cabin of the Short Canopus. In addition to the normal controls and instruments the Sperry automatic pilot switch-over and the airscrew pitch controls can be seen below the throttle bank, while the trimming controls are above the screen in the centre. An extraordinarily good all-round view is obtainable from the cabin.

The cockpit of the C-Class flying-boat was remarkably spacious with excellent visibility afforded by the generous glazing wrapped around the upper forward fuselage. Stations for captain and first officer were provided side-by-side with dual controls, aft of which were the radio officer’s control panel and an auxiliary power unit.

The Captain's Bridge: The Short Empire boat must be one of the most completely equipped machines so far seen in this country. Convenience has been studied very carefully in the disposition of the controls and instruments and this Flight photograph also conveys a good impression of the good view provided for the two pilots. The more important details of the installation are indicated and numbered in this photograph.

FAR EASTERN SURVEY: A "close-up" of the commander, Capt. L. A. Egglesfield, in the control cabin. The sun-blinds above Capt. Egglesfield seen in this picture make a European winter appear to be particularly hard.
Capt L. A. Egglesfield at the controls of Cordelia, G-AEUD, at Singapore in November 1937.

Marconi transmitter, receiver and D F equipment in Canopus.

A good example of modern aircraft radio installation - the very complete Marconi equipment in the Short Empire boat. This installation comprises long and short wave two-way equipment with a rotating loop, which may be used either for obtaining bearings or for homing, and a self-contained generating station, part of which may be seen in the lower right-hand corner of the picture.

A good example of modern aircraft radio installation - the very complete Marconi equipment in the Short Empire boat. A close-up of the sets with various parts uncovered for inspection. This installation comprises long and short wave two-way equipment with a rotating loop, which may be used either for obtaining bearings or for homing, and a self-contained generating station.

Callender cables in the interior of one of the Short Empire flying boats

IMPERIAL LUXURY: The after cabin of one of the new Short "Empire" flying boats, seen from the promenade cabin. For night work, bunks will be rigged above the luxurious seats - which, it will be noted, are provided with adjusting levers to set the backs to any desired angle. By day the boat will carry 24 passengers, and 16 by night - which suggests even more intricate booking problems for the Imperial Airways traffic staff. This photograph, of course, is not of the interior of an actual boat, but of the careful "mock-up" which serves as a guide to the fitting-out of the finished article.

Passengers in the Promenade Saloon in an Imperial Airways Empire flying-boat. The S.23 carried 24 day passengers with alternative 16 sleeping berth layout, in addition to 1 1/2 tons of mail.

A corner of the Promenade Cabin

An IAL promotional item extolling the virtues of “the most comfortable armchairs in the world..."

Imperial’s marketing department emphasised the luxury available aboard its C-Class ’boats. This posed photo of relaxed, happy passengers was used on a Senior Service cigarette card entitled “Comfort in the Air”, which read: “It is hard to realise that these happily engrossed people are several thousand feet above the Earth”.

Promenade saloon of the Empire flying boat

Another IAL promotional item, this time pointing out the benefits of the promenade deck, providing “plenty of room to walk about”.

Пассажирский салон самолета S.23

Promenade cabin of a Short Empire Flying Boat.

A novel feature of the C-Class was the ‘‘Promenade Deck”, a rather grand name for a wide side-aisle in the centre cabin, appointed with a handrail and eye-level windows for observation.

A portion of the middle cabin, with steps leading up to the after cabin, which is on a slightly higher level. On the port side there are no chairs, the floor space being used as a small promenade deck. A hand rail runs along under the windows.

A corner of the Smoking Saloon

The August 1938 edition of the Qantas Empire Airways monthly in-house gazette, the cover photograph emphasising the comfortable and spacious passenger accommodation offered by the Empire flying-boats. Competitor KLM/KNILM’s land-based Douglas and Lockheed airliners seemed cramped in comparison.

During the daytime the berths and bedding are stored in the "loft" above one of the main cabins. How the berths are arranged in the small cabins between the spar frames is shown on the right.

Promotional photos of passengers enjoying sumptuous levels of comfort were almost certainly taken in a cabin mock-up!

Imperial paid a great deal of attention to detail in the appointment of the C-Class cabins, and patented its own specialised design for a lightweight reclining chair. At least one still exists and is, at time of press, for sale on a popular online marketplace website!