Short Belfast

The Short Belfast was a heavy four‑engine turboprop transport built by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force. Development began in 1965 to meet the RAF’s requirement for a long‑range airlifter capable of operating from short, austere runways. The prototype first flew on 20 August 1967 and entered service in 1970 as the C‑1 Belfast.

Powered by four Rolls‑Royce Tyne Mk.6 engines with four‑bladed propellers, the Belfast could carry up to 35 tonnes of cargo or 189 troops, and its rear loading ramp allowed rapid loading of vehicles, containers or humanitarian supplies. With a range of about 4,500 km at full payload and a ceiling of 30,000 ft, it offered strategic flexibility. Only eight airframes were built – six for the RAF and two for the Royal New Zealand Air Force – yet the type proved the viability of large turboprop transports at a time when jet airlifters were becoming dominant.

The Belfast bridged the gap between post‑war piston freighters and modern jet transports, demonstrating that turboprop power could deliver high payloads with fuel efficiency and short‑runway performance. Experience gained influenced later Short designs such as the Britannia and the Skyvan series.

Short Brothers

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