Small · ICAO SC7

Short SC-7 Skyvan

The Short SC.7 Skyvan is a small, twin-engine STOL cargo and utility aircraft with a distinctively boxy, slab-sided fuselage, built to maximise usable cargo volume rather than for aerodynamic elegance. Its rear loading ramp and simple, unpressurised interior made it easy to load bulky cargo, vehicles, or parachutists. It became a popular choice for skydiving operations worldwide, thanks to its wide-open interior and strong climb performance. Its unmistakable shape makes it one of the most easily recognised utility aircraft of its era.

Short SC-7 Skyvan, example photo from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Piemags Aviation · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Did you know?

The Skyvan's boxy, slab-sided fuselage sacrifices aerodynamics for cargo volume, making it a favourite for skydiving operations worldwide.

Specifications

Length12.2 m (40 ft)
Wingspan19.8 m (65 ft)
Height4.6 m (15 ft)
Maximum passengers19
Persons on board19
Maximum take-off weight5.7 t
Range420 NM (778 km)
Maximum speed133 kt (246 km/h)
Stall speed60 kt (111 km/h)
Service ceiling22,000 ft (6,706 m)
Optimum ceiling20,000 ft (6,096 m)
Rate of climb1,640 ft/min (8.3 m/s)
Take-off distance482 m (1,581 ft)
Landing distance622 m (2,041 ft)
Fuel capacity1,773 l
Engines2x Garrett TPE331-2
Units built149

Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.

In CatchFlights

In CatchFlights the Short SC-7 Skyvan starts as a Rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.

A catch counts for the manufacturer Short, the SC-7 Skyvan family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.

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