Short S.32

Short S.32
Role	Long-range transport monoplane
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Short Brothers (Rochester and Bedford) Limited
Designer	Arthur Gouge
Number built	3 (not completed)

The Short S.32 was a British four-engined all-metal long-range transport monoplane designed by Short Brothers to Air Ministry Specification 14/38. The project was abandoned in May 1940. If produced, it would have been one of the first British pressurised airliners.

Development

In 1938 the British Air Ministry issued two specifications (14/38 and 15/38) for large transport aircraft comparable in size with the Junkers Ju 90 and Focke Wulf Fw 200, with Specification 14/38 being for use on Empire routes and 15/38 for European routes. The Ministry placed a contract with Shorts for three prototypes designated the Short S.32 against specification 14/38 and a production order for 14 Fairey FC1s against specification 15/38.

The S.32 was a four-engined mid-wing monoplane powered by Bristol Hercules radials. The S.32 had a tailwheel landing gear to overcome problems with a nose wheel retracting into a pressurised fuselage. The build of three prototypes for the Air Ministry was started at Rochester but due to the urgent need for the factory to build the Short Stirling construction was abandoned.

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

• Capacity: 16 day passengers or 14 night passengers with alternate high density layout for 24 passengers
• Length: 89 ft 0 in (27.13 m)
• Wingspan: 127 ft 0 in (38.72 m)
• Empty weight: 39,000 lb (17,690 kg)
• Gross weight: 71,000 lb (32,205 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × Bristol Hercules radial piston, 1,250 hp (933 kW) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 246 mph (396 km/h)
• Range: 3,420 miles (5,504 km)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Junkers Ju 90
• Douglas DC-4