Editing Short C-23 Sherpa (section)

==Design and development==
[[File:Short Skyvan SC.7 (G-BEOL) arrives at RIAT Fairford 12July2018 arp.jpg|thumb|The Short Skyvan, from which the C-23 was developed. The C-23B+ was a combination of C-23 and Shorts 360]]
The Short 330 was developed by [[Short Brothers]] of [[Belfast]] from their earlier [[Short SC.7 Skyvan]] STOL utility transport. The 330 has a longer wingspan and fuselage than the Skyvan, while retaining the Skyvan's square shaped fuselage cross section, allowing it to carry up to 30 passengers while retaining good short field characteristics. The 330 entered commercial service in 1976.<ref name="donald world">{{cite book |editor=Donald, David |title=The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft |year=1997 |publisher=Aerospace Publishing |isbn=1-85605-375-X |page=838}}</ref>

In addition to the passenger aircraft, Shorts also planned two freight versions. The ''Short 330-UTT'' (for Utility Tactical Transport) was a military transport version fitted with a strengthened cabin floor and paratroop doors,<ref name="Janes88-89"/> which was sold in small numbers, primarily to Thailand, which purchased four. The ''Short Sherpa'' was a freighter fitted with a full-width rear cargo door/ramp. This version first flew on 23 December 1982,<ref name="Janes88-89">{{cite book|editor-last=Taylor|editor-first= JWR |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft, 1988–1989|year=1988|publisher=Jane's Information Group|isbn=0-7106-0867-5 |pages=304–306}}</ref> with the first order for 18 aircraft being placed by the [[United States Air Force]] in March 1983. These aircraft were assigned to [[Military Airlift Command]] (MAC) for the European Distribution System Aircraft (EDSA) role, flying cargo and personnel between [[United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa|United States Air Forces in Europe]] (USAFE) air bases.<ref name="Janes88-89"/> Eventually, 60 would be procured by for the U.S. armed forces and serve well into the 21st century.{{cn|date=June 2024}} The C-23 Sherpa was the winner of a competition to enhance cargo delivery in that theater.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-02-18 |title=A look back at USAFE's C-23A Sherpa operations |url=https://www.key.aero/article/look-back-usafes-c-23a-sherpa-operations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240325012313/https://www.key.aero/article/look-back-usafes-c-23a-sherpa-operations |archive-date=2024-03-25 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=key.aero |language=en}}</ref> One of its competitors as that time was the [[CASA C-212 Aviocar|CASA C.212 Aviocar]].<ref name=":1" />

The Sherpa's cabin is 6.5&nbsp;ft (1.98&nbsp;m) wide, 6.5&nbsp;ft (1.98&nbsp;m) high and 29&nbsp;ft (8.84&nbsp;m) long.<ref name="Archived copy"/> It offers a cargo volume of 1,230&nbsp;cu ft (34.83&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>), with a cargo capacity of 8,000&nbsp;lb (3,629&nbsp;kg).<ref name="Archived copy"/> The Sherpa is also capable of operating from unpaved runways and making [[STOL|short takeoff and landings (STOL)]].<ref name="Archived copy"/>

In [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. military]] service, the Short 330 was designated ''C-23A Sherpa''. The ''C-23B Sherpa'' is similar to the C-23A, but with cabin windows.<ref name="donald military">{{cite book|editor1-last=Donald|editor1-first=David|editor2-last=Lake|editor2-first=John|title=Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft|edition=Single Volume|year=1996|publisher=Aerospace Publishing|location=London|isbn=1-874023-95-6|page=384}}</ref> The ''C-23B+'' [[Short 360]] derivative was created by replacing the rear fuselage of Short 360s obtained on the second-hand market with the twin tail and rear loading ramp of the Short Sherpa.

The C-23 was produced at the Short Brothers' facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland.<ref name="olive-drab">{{cite web|url=http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_c23sherpa.php|title=C-23 Sherpa|access-date=21 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019093835/http://www.olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_c23sherpa.php|archive-date=19 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2024, De Havilland Canada’s  did a study to evaluate returning the C-23 Sherpa to production, noting that the aviation market had seen other succesfull revivals such as the [[De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter|Twin Otter]] and [[Canadair CL-415|CL-415]] (DHC-515 Firefighter).<ref name=":0" />