Short Empire

The Short Empire was a four-engined monoplane transport flying boat, designed and developed by Short Brothers during the 1930s to meet the requirements of the British Empire, specifically to provide air service from the UK to South Africa, Singapore and Australia in stages. It was developed in parallel with the Short Sunderland maritime patrol bomber, which served in the Second World War along with the piggy-back Short Mayo Composite. Imperial Airways, as the primary customer, developed the requirements to which it was ordered and designed. Imperial Airways, and its successor, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), along with Qantas and TEAL, operated the type in commercial service. The Empire routinely flew between the British mainland and Australia and the various British colonies in Africa and Asia, typically carrying a combination of passengers and mail. The Empires were also used between Bermuda and New York City. The Empire saw commercial and military service during the Second World War, for anti-submarine patrols and as a transport. The Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) used the type.