Specifications for the C-23B Sherpa Cargo Airplane

     The grey, 30-foot long Sherpa, begins life as a Shorts 360 Airliner.  The Shorts Aviation Company is located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is one of the oldest aircraft builders in the world.  The airplanes are then sent to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where each is remanufactured into an Army Sherpa.

     The C-23B Sherpa aircraft is a light military transport aircraft, designed to operate efficiently, even under the most arduous conditions, in a wide range of mission configurations.  The large square-section hold, with excellent access at both ends, offers ready flexibility to perform ordnance movement, troop & vehicle transport, airborne/airdrop missions, medical evacuation and is suitable for conversion to other specialist duties such as maritime or land surveillance.

     Configured as a troop transport, the Sherpa provides comfortable, air-conditioned seating for 30 passengers, features "walk about" headroom, a removable latrine unit, and has a 500 lb capacity / 345 cu. ft. baggage compartment located in the nose of the aircraft.  Additional space for a 600 lb capacity optional baggage pallet is provided on the rear ramp of the aircraft.

     During airborne operations, the aircraft accommodates 27 paratroopers.  Optionally, it can be outfitted to handle up to 18 stretchers plus 2 medical attendants.

     The airplane meets Army Short Take-off & Landing guidelines (STOL), can operate from unpaved runways and is equipped with self-contained ground handling equipment.   Operational experience with this remarkable aircraft has proven it to have low maintenance costs and low fuel consumption.

General Characteristics

  • Length: 58.04'
  • Height: 16.41'
  • Wing Span: 74.84'
  • Cargo Cabin Dimensions:
    • Length: 29.82
    • Width: 6.2'
    • Height: 6.46'
  • Maximum Take-Off Weight: 25,600 lbs
  • Design Payload: 7,280 lbs
  • Maximum Fuel Load: 4,480 lbs
  • Take-Off: 1,850' (To 15 Meters: 2,630')
  • Landing: 1,130' (From 15 Meters: 1,920')
  • Maximum Cruising Speed: 198 Knots

     There is an ancient code that exists among aviators (and on the wall of Detachment 2). Here is some valuable (though dated) advice in the vein and flavor of Robert Fulghum’s "Everything I Know I Learned In Kindergarten", Stephen Covey’s "Seven Effective Habits of Highly Successful People", and "Letterman’s Top Ten List"...

Regulations For The
Operation of Aircraft

January, 1920

  1. Don’t take the machine into the air unless you are satisfied it will fly.
  2. Never leave the ground with the motor leaking.
  3. Don’t turn sharply when taxiing. Instead of turning sharp, have someone lift the tail off the ground.
  4. In taking off, look at the ground and the air.
  5. Never get out of a machine with the motor running until the pilot relieving you can reach the engine controls.
  6. Pilots should carry hankies in a handy position to wipe off goggles.
  7. Riding on the steps, wings, or tail of a machine is prohibited.
  8. In case the engine fails on takeoff, land straight ahead regardless of obstacles.
  9. No machine must taxi faster than a man can walk.
  10. Never run motor so that blast will blow on other machines.
  11. Learn to gauge altitude, especially on landing.
  12. If you see another machine near you, get out of the way.
  13. No two cadets should ever ride together in the same machine.
  14. Do not trust altitude instruments.
  15. Before you begin a landing glide, see that no machines are under you.
  16. Hedge-hopping will not be tolerated.
  17. No spins on back or tail slides will be indulged in as they unnecessarily strain the machines.
  18. If flying against the wind and you wish to fly with the wind, don’t make a sharp turn near the ground. You may crash.
  19. Motors have been known to stop during a long glide. If pilot wishes to use motor for landing, he should open throttle.
  20. Don’t attempt to force machine onto ground with more than flying speed. The result is bouncing and ricocheting.
  21. Pilots will not wear spurs while flying.
  22. Do not use aeronautical gasoline in cars or motorcycles.
  23. You must not take off or land closer than 50 feet to the hangar.
  24. Never take a machine into the air until you are familiar with its controls and instruments.
    and last, but not least...
  25. If an emergency occurs while flying, land as soon as possible.