Gents,

My first replica build for quite a while. I hope you find her acceptable. She has props, roundels and curves. This makes me happy, at least.

The Short Belfast is a heavy lift turboprop freighter that was built by British manufacturer Short Brothers at Belfast. Only 10 aircraft were constructed, all of which entered service with the Royal Air Force, who operated it under the designation Short Belfast C.1.

On 20 January 1966, the Belfast C.1 entered service with No. 53 Squadron when XR367 (the sixth production aircraft) was delivered to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Four months later, No. 53 Squadron was relocated to RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, to make way for upgrades being performed at Brize Norton; they returned to RAF Brize Norton in 1967.[19] Unusually for service aircraft, all the Belfasts were given names, with "Spartacus" (XR369) being depicted here.

By the end of 1976, the Belfast fleet had been retired and flown to RAF Kemble, Gloucestershire for long-term storage.

So, ten built in total, and serving for an all too short service life of ten years. Not unusual that this type is not well known, or that this is (apparently) the first example of the type here on Simpleplanes!

Please do read the instructions and kindly ignore the little dance she does on start up - it is just a byproduct of how I built the landing gear doors.

Pip pip, chaps and tally bloody ho!