Short Brothers · Maritime Patrol · UK · WWII (1939–1945)
Open in interactive gallery →The Short Shetland was a British four-engine flying boat designed for Royal Air Force long-range reconnaissance and patrol operations during WWII but completed only as 2 prototypes (one military S.35 Shetland I and one civil S.40 Shetland II). The Shetland was Short Brothers's largest WWII flying boat — markedly larger than the company's earlier Sunderland — but the type's intended military mission was overtaken by land-based patrol aircraft (Liberators, B-17s) before production could begin. The S.35 prototype first flew on 14 December 1944.
The Shetland used four Bristol Centaurus VII 18-cylinder radial engines (2,500 hp each). Maximum speed 263 mph; range 4,000 miles; service ceiling 16,500 ft. Maximum takeoff weight 130,000 lb — among the largest British aircraft of WWII. The aircraft was 91 ft 8 in long with a 110 ft wingspan. Crew: 11. Defensive armament: 6 .50-cal Browning machine guns in dorsal and tail turrets.
The S.35 prototype was destroyed by an engine fire while moored at Felixstowe on 28 January 1946. The S.40 Shetland II civilian prototype completed conversion in 1947 and made test flights but never entered commercial service; the type was scrapped in 1951. The Shetland's failure had three causes: (1) the military requirement for long-range maritime patrol was being satisfied by long-range land-based aircraft (Liberators / Lancasters / Sunderlands), (2) post-war commercial flying-boat operators preferred the smaller, more-economical Solent and Princess types, and (3) the giant Shetland had specific catastrophic-fire risks the smaller Sunderland did not face. The type is one of the rarest British WWII flying boats.
The Short Shetland was a huge British flying boat from World War Two. It had four powerful engines and could carry a crew of eleven people. It was built by a company called Short Brothers.
The Shetland was bigger than any other flying boat Short Brothers had made before. It was larger than their famous Sunderland flying boat. Its wings stretched 110 feet wide, and it was nearly 92 feet long.
The Shetland could fly up to 263 miles per hour. It could travel as far as 4,000 miles without stopping. That is like flying from one side of the country to the other and back again, several times!
Only two Shetlands were ever built. The first one flew in December 1944. Sadly, it was destroyed by an engine fire in early 1946. The second one was meant to carry passengers but never did, and it was scrapped in 1951.
The Shetland never went into full production. By the time it was ready, other land-based aircraft were already doing its job. So the whole project was cancelled.
A flying boat is a special kind of plane that can take off and land on water. Instead of wheels, it has a big hull like a boat. The Short Shetland was one of the largest flying boats Britain ever made.
By the time the Shetland was ready, other planes were already doing its job. Land-based aircraft like the Liberator took over its patrol duties. So there was no need to build more Shetlands.
The first Shetland was destroyed by an engine fire in January 1946. The second one was converted into a civilian plane but never carried passengers. It was scrapped in 1951.
Three reasons: (1) the military requirement for long-range maritime patrol was being met by long-range land-based aircraft (Consolidated Liberators, Avro Lancasters, Short Sunderlands); (2) post-war commercial flying-boat operators preferred the smaller, more-economical Short Solent and Saunders-Roe Princess types; (3) the S.35 prototype was destroyed by an engine fire in January 1946, and the development cost to recover the programme exceeded the residual military or civilian customer interest.
Only 2 prototypes — the S.35 Shetland I military prototype (1944, destroyed 1946) and the S.40 Shetland II civilian prototype (1947, scrapped 1951). No production aircraft was ever built.
91 ft 8 in long, 110 ft wingspan, 130,000 lb maximum takeoff weight — among the largest British aircraft of WWII. About 30% larger than the contemporary Short Sunderland that was the principal British flying boat of WWII.