Short Calcutta

The Short S.8 Calcutta was a civilian biplane airliner flying boat made by Short Brothers for Imperial Airways, which needed an aircraft for the Mediterranean legs of its services to and from India. Derived from the Short Singapore military flying boat, it was the first British stressed skin, metal-hulled flying boat, with three Bristol Jupiter engines mounted between the wings. The two pilots flew from an open cockpit while the radio operator shared the main cabin with 15 passengers. It first flew on 14 February 1928, entered Imperial Airways service that August on the Mediterranean to Karachi route and seven were built. A military version became the Short Rangoon, and Breguet built a licensed variant for the French Navy.