As a young Cpl army I was part of the crew that loaded 2 Sioux and 2 Scout helicopters into a Belfast. First time it had been done and we flew from Brize to Acrowhatever in Cyprus, back in 1971. We returned in 2 Hercules as no Belfast’s where available. John
I live in Northern Ireland and not far from where these aircraft were built. I think only ten were made and specifically for the RAF. They sold them off just prior to the Falkland's War and it left them without a heavy workhorse. Embarrassingly, the RAF had to lease them back at great expense to shift heavy military equipment to Ascension Island which was the nearest friendly territory to the Falklands. When that war was over the Belfasts reverted to their civilian role. I had tenuous connections with Shorts at that time. They had the contract to build the wings for the Fokker 100 passenger jet airliner. It was assembled in Holland. The Belfasts were used to fly sets of wings to Amsterdam. Their main civilian role was to fly heavy mining machinery especially down to parts of Africa. I once had the offer to fly as a passenger on one of these flights but to my eternal regret, I had to refuse. However, I did have the privilege of seeing some of them take off and for about ten minutes afterwards, I could hear the thunder of the engines. At other times when I was at home, I could also detect the distinctive sound of their engines and knew that one had just become airborne. I don't think any of these magnificent flying beasts survive as they had to be cannibalised for parts.
I remember when a Belfast came into Wichita to deliver a Learjet Model 45 fuselage from Short Brothers. Pulled up to our ramp and crew ran out to place buckets to collect the fuel leaking from the wings. Airport authorities had previously written them up for contaminating the area with jet fuel! Went into aircraft was duly impressed!
In 1969 I flew from RAF Odiham to Floyd Bennet field in Brooklyn in a Belfast as part of the RAF team in the transatlantic air race. Great trip but had to stop off at Gander as it didn't have the range when fully loaded with a couple of Wessex helicopters.
As far as I know, Shorts built 7 Belfasts for the RAF. They all survived thier service lives and were sold to commercial air frieght companies for doing heavy lifts. The fact that the RAF succeeded in not crashing any of them is something of a miricle.
Geez, I remember watching one departing Darwin, hot day, humid and it must of being heavily loaded. I think they were radioing for the Tiwi Islands to be moved because it was only climbing due to the curvature of the earth.
In the RAF that I was a member of ..... it was NEVER called the Belslow! and BTW Ive never seen a VC10 loaded with two Wessex Helicopters plus a full squadron's worth of spares! As for noise ..... I travelled on detachments to Cyprus and Tehran a couple of times and I can only assume you are mixing it up with the C130 :)
we had some of Shorts smaller planes here....this looks great...for myself, I always wonder why it is that the British appear to have little faith in their designs and look to buy others, such as the C-130...I traveled in an early version from Athens to Evreaux in France...it was noisy beyond belief...
Alejandra y Alan Bowman - no, not really. it was not very practical and the RAF could buy and operate three C-130 for the price of one Belfast. British may have made some good aircraft, but they don't know how to make them cost effective. Besides, the best characteristics of this aircraft predominantly came from the Canadian design elements when Shorts collaborated with Canadair (now Bombardier) for the development and construction.
Great videos . But would it be possible to increase sound quality and maybe using a higher quality high def camera? Your work is outstanding and I am a big fan ! thanks
Nothing to do with the C-133, the Belfast was derived from the Bristol Britannia. It was a little smaller than the Douglas C-133, but larger than the Lockheed C-130.
This has been a little bit of a trip back in time for me. I was an electrician on them for 5 years at Brize Norton and they were the worst aircraft that I worked on in 12 years of R.A.F. life. Supposed to in flight refuel, they couldn't. to air drop but almost crashed when the back was opened. Fitted with underpowered RR Tyne engines fitted onto Britannia wings. But they did have 6 nice bunks under the cockpit for a sleep on a quite night shift, the only good thing about them.Don't like Belslugs
As a young Cpl army I was part of the crew that loaded 2 Sioux and 2 Scout helicopters into a Belfast. First time it had been done and we flew from Brize to Acrowhatever in Cyprus, back in 1971. We returned in 2 Hercules as no Belfast’s where available.
John
I live in Northern Ireland and not far from where these aircraft were built. I think only ten were made and specifically for the RAF. They sold them off just prior to the Falkland's War and it left them without a heavy workhorse. Embarrassingly, the RAF had to lease them back at great expense to shift heavy military equipment to Ascension Island which was the nearest friendly territory to the Falklands.
When that war was over the Belfasts reverted to their civilian role.
I had tenuous connections with Shorts at that time. They had the contract to build the wings for the Fokker 100 passenger jet airliner. It was assembled in Holland. The Belfasts were used to fly sets of wings to Amsterdam.
Their main civilian role was to fly heavy mining machinery especially down to parts of Africa.
I once had the offer to fly as a passenger on one of these flights but to my eternal regret, I had to refuse.
However, I did have the privilege of seeing some of them take off and for about ten minutes afterwards, I could hear the thunder of the engines.
At other times when I was at home, I could also detect the distinctive sound of their engines and knew that one had just become airborne.
I don't think any of these magnificent flying beasts survive as they had to be cannibalised for parts.
I remember when a Belfast came into Wichita to deliver a Learjet Model 45 fuselage from Short Brothers. Pulled up to our ramp and crew ran out to place buckets to collect the fuel leaking from the wings. Airport authorities had previously written them up for contaminating the area with jet fuel! Went into aircraft was duly impressed!
In 1969 I flew from RAF Odiham to Floyd Bennet field in Brooklyn in a Belfast as part of the RAF team in the transatlantic air race. Great trip but had to stop off at Gander as it didn't have the range when fully loaded with a couple of Wessex helicopters.
i remember working at bombardier in toronto few years back. that plane landed at the downsview airstrip. it is massive
As far as I know, Shorts built 7 Belfasts for the RAF. They all survived thier service lives and were sold to commercial air frieght companies for doing heavy lifts. The fact that the RAF succeeded in not crashing any of them is something of a miricle.
Worked at Liverpool doing Ford Charters with Heavylift was a pleasure at the time great UK Crews on board happy memorys fantastic aeroplane
Geez, I remember watching one departing Darwin, hot day, humid and it must of being heavily loaded. I think they were radioing for the Tiwi Islands to be moved because it was only climbing due to the curvature of the earth.
In the RAF we called it the Bellslow it took ages to get anywhere compared to VC10 you sat up in the tail on row of seats and the noise was hell !!!
In the RAF that I was a member of ..... it was NEVER called the Belslow! and BTW Ive never seen a VC10 loaded with two Wessex Helicopters plus a full squadron's worth of spares! As for noise ..... I travelled on detachments to Cyprus and Tehran a couple of times and I can only assume you are mixing it up with the C130 :)
we had some of Shorts smaller planes here....this looks great...for myself, I always wonder why it is that the British appear to have little faith in their designs and look to buy others, such as the C-130...I traveled in an early version from Athens to Evreaux in France...it was noisy beyond belief...
bouncy touchdown, great video!
Great aircraft, its potential was crippled by bureaucrats.
Alejandra y Alan Bowman - no, not really. it was not very practical and the RAF could buy and operate three C-130 for the price of one Belfast.
British may have made some good aircraft, but they don't know how to make them cost effective.
Besides, the best characteristics of this aircraft predominantly came from the Canadian design elements when Shorts collaborated with Canadair (now Bombardier) for the development and construction.
thanks for another great vid :)
Anyone know of any film of the Belfast in RAF service....I flew many places in them in the early 70s....memories......
I believe 10 were built. One requirment was it had to be able carry a Blue Steak IRBM
Omg, amazing sounds!
Looks like a Russian cargo plane. On that first landing: does the pilot log 3 landings?? Bounce, Bounce, Bounce!!!
Great videos . But would it be possible to increase sound quality and maybe using a higher quality high def camera? Your work is outstanding and I am a big fan ! thanks
RP-C8020 is up for sale if you've got the money!
H/L Belfasts where the Biz !
Triple Bounce!
Its a C-133 Cargomaster british version, called Belfast sure more wide and short as a bulldog
Nothing to do with the C-133, the Belfast was derived from the Bristol Britannia. It was a little smaller than the Douglas C-133, but larger than the Lockheed C-130.
Amazing that it was cheaper/more convenient to move things like that orange crane by air instead of on the back of a truck once...
Freighters are sooo cool....
46 secs manages to do a huge bounce
@ArtuRider Douglas DC-8-61 cargo version
why do we need A400m just stick some modern turboprops on to new build Belfasts's
44pattern - because they were crap.
@patrickd126 The extremely rare Short Belfast
bounce bounce bounce...
A pity a longer look at the engineer’s panel could not be fitted into the video. Disappointed.
This has been a little bit of a trip back in time for me. I was an electrician on them for 5 years at Brize Norton and they were the worst aircraft that I worked on in 12 years of R.A.F. life. Supposed to in flight refuel, they couldn't. to air drop but almost crashed when the back was opened. Fitted with underpowered RR Tyne engines fitted onto Britannia wings. But they did have 6 nice bunks under the cockpit for a sleep on a quite night shift, the only good thing about them.Don't like Belslugs
What Aircraft is this
Dear Patrick, look at the title it's a Shorts Belfast, which is where they were built.
:)
lol,6:54
Nice vid. Hated the music.