Pilots and afficionados of aircraft often come up with nicknames for aircraft (because either they love them or maybe they hate them...🙂...). Either way these nicknames resemble the namesake aircraft in some characteristics (or should we say idiosyncrasies), by look or trait. A long while ago, inside the O'Hare Terminal, as I was walking down the concourse and past the gates, towards my own departure gate, and wanting to know the Gate No. of my flight (since the information was not listed on my Ticket or probably the gate was changed for some reason), I happened to ask a staff member of the same airline, walking from the opposite direction. He took a look at my Ticket, and said, "Just keep walking...past a few more gates. You will see your plane waiting for you on the right-hand side...", and then smilingly added, "You cannot miss it. It's a thin and long aircraft, and we call it the "Flying Pencil"...". He was referring to a 757-300, the same type I am scheduled to fly in a few weeks...

This post is also about one atypical looking aircraft that was nicknamed "Flying Shoebox". Now, I rarely get influenced by "Marketplace" (MSFS) ads, but, yesterday, the SC.7 Skyvan sales-pitch photo triggered my interest enough to acquire it. First of all, the a/c is by iniBuilds, and I've generally begun to like the realistic look and feel of all iniBuilds a/c, in spite of some issues (personally) encountered during their operation. Anyway, this little (and strange looking) a/c has the slogan "the van that flies" printed on the fuselage (see my images below and check for yourself the validity of the nickname and the slogan). The (SIM) a/c flew very well on my first attempt, as I did a full race-course pattern, lifting off (LPPR) Porto Airport northward from Rwy 35 (Porto, btw, been one of the airports specifically mentioned in the latest (MSFS) City Update), then completing a U-turn, over pretty (coastal) landscapes, washed by the evening glow of the setting sun...🙂...and finally landing back on Porto (ILS) Runway 17 (this SC.7 version does have GPS units equipped and the aircraft's pedestal contains an authentic looking autopilot panel...see my interior cockpit images below). 

Since my earliest days in the SIM, I've been particularly interested in the "boxcar" look alike a/c of the Short brothers. I'd flown the S330/S360 often and also posted about (I believe Carenado had them). These a/c kind of look like the (more familiar) Cessna Grand Cravan, but the Caravan is of much smaller capacity. And if you overlook the front propellers and the tapering back ends of these Short models, these a/c indeed remind you of a (railway) boxcar...🙂...We know that the circular cross section is the most optimized shape for pressurized aircraft flying in high altitudes. However, the Short Skyvans were not aimed for such purpose (nor to win any beauty contest) but intended for lower-altitude utilitarian (cargo) operations.

Indeed, they proved versatile and popular (on both sides of the Atlantic), and believe it or not, among all the British aircraft of comparable utilities (prop or jet), the Short propliner models (S.330/S.360/SC.7/C-23) far outnumbered (and outsold) each of the venerable ones such as BAe 146/Avro RJ, HS 748, Vickers Viscount and the BAC 1-11...a lasting testament to the heritage and the objectives of the original design. However, like all good things come to an end, these aircraft had to eventually bow out of the market, as the (pressurized) a/c became commonplace, and the simplicity that was the forte of Short a/c, turned into its cause of downfall.

While you hopefully enjoy the pictures below of this (specific) Short a/c SC.7 variant, we should also probably think a bit about the Short brothers (3 of them) ...just as we think of the Wright Brothers (2 of them). There is a link between these 2 sets of brothers. The Short Brothers were the first to be awarded a contract by the Wright Brothers to build (licensed version) of six (Wright Flyer) biplanes, which were the first to be used in UK to grant the first pilot's licenses in UK. The Short Brothers would then move on to their own unique designs of a/c... Boxcars, Sheds, Shoeboxes...whatever nicknames you may call them by...🙂...

[Historical (Nostalgic) Note: On a lonely (and peaceful looking) stretch of grass-fields on the Isle of Sheppy, at Leysdown-on-sea, in Kent (UK), there stands a statue of the 3 brothers, wearing Chesterfield style coats, arms outstretched in a flying motion...a short distance from which on the adjacent land, they had constructed their (and Britain's) first aircraft factory and completed Britain's first ever circular mile of flight. And who knew those aviation roots planted on those fields of Leysdown (Kent), would travel first to Belfast (Ireland), and finally via Bombardier acquisition, would eventually end up in the farmlands of midwestern U.S. with Spirit AeroSystems of Wichita (Kansas)...🙂..., who btw now make fuselages for Airbus and Boeing...787/350 included...]

After my own successful (short) "circular" flight with the Short Brothers' Skyvan, the city of "Porto" makes me now think of a glass of "Port" wine named after this city...just for celebration...🙂...

Thanks for viewing...! Happy flying...!

Great set of shots! 😉 

Fine set !

cheers 😉

Fascinating stuff, P_7878, and great set of shots (Shorts? <grin>) I didn't know anything about the brothers and didn't realise their history went back that far. I also grabbed this from the Marketplace - I usually do grab these issues whatever the aircraft as I figure for the £9.00'ish price I can't go wrong, and they are usually wonderfully well done. This one has been a treat - lots of detail (as well shown by your pix) and great fun to fly. No idea about the systems or flight model - as usual I don't care about that stuff anyway, but for me it's handled like a dream.

An ugly little beast, but great fun.

Will, pmplayer, Andy: Many thanks for the comments...appreciated much...!

 

On 6/6/2024 at 4:14 AM, andy1252 said:

An ugly little beast, but great fun.

...🙂...True, the little beast has grown on me a bit...so, I did one more outing with it ...🙂...before putting it away...

Not the best looking aircraft, but interesting.

Darryl

On 6/6/2024 at 11:14 AM, andy1252 said:

An ugly little beast, but great fun.

+1 😉

Darryl and Bernd:

Thanks for chiming in extra…🙂…Cheers…!