Short S.38

The Short S.38 was an early British aircraft built by Short Brothers.

Design and development

The Short S.38 was originally a Short S.27 with the manufacturer's number S.38. After an accident when hoisting this aircraft aboard HMS London the remains were returned to Shorts, where the aircraft was rebuilt with extensive modifications, the resulting design becoming known as the Short S.38 type

The rebuilt S.38 had the same basic layout as the original aircraft, being an unequal-span pusher biplane with a forward-mounted elevator and an empennage carried on wire-braced wooden booms behind the wing. It differed in having new wings of increased span, a nacelle to accommodate the two crew members seated in tandem, and modified tail surfaces, the tailplane being enlarged and twin rudders fitted. The front elevator was mounted on booms, as in the original aircraft.

Production aircraft differed in having the front elevator mounted on an upswept outrigger on the front of the nacelle. Additionally the outer panels of the upper wing had a swept back leading edge, and were rigged with a slight dihedral.