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Aviation of World War II |
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S.23 EmpireTransport Flying BoatShort![]() The first S.23 Canopus took off from Rochester in July 1936 and entered service in early September. The aircraft produced later were used on airlines for flights to Australia, Bermuda, Durban, Egypt, the Malay Archipelago, New York, as well as to East and South Africa. The capacity was designed for 1360 kg of mail and 24 passengers during the day or 16 at night, but the increase in mail weight by 454 kg reduced the number of passengers to 17 people. |
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The Short S.30 aircraft, powered by the more economical Bristol Perseus XIIC engines, with a lower output of 890 hp, had twice the range of the S.23 aircraft and were used for transatlantic trials. The last variant was the S.33 with 920 hp Bristol Pegasus XC engines. The total production of Empire flying boats was 42 aircraft. Several S.23 vehicles were requisitioned during WWII for service with the British Air Force, two of them were modified to the S.23M variant with an onboard surface targeting radar (ASV) and armament consisting of two four-gun turrets and six depth charges. Three Short S.26 class "G" flying boats, powered by Bristol Hercules, 1380 hp, were built for Imperial Airways for non-stop transatlantic flights for mail delivery, were large compared to class "C" dimensions, first flew in June 1939. During the war, they all served as intelligence officers.
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