De Havilland Canada is assessing interest in reviving the Short C-23 Sherpa, a twin-turboprop cargo aircraft last produced in 1990, with a focus on the European market. The company plans a transatlantic demonstration tour this year featuring a Garmin 1000-equipped C-23 Sherpa, including a stop at CANSEC in Ottawa.
At the recent DAIMEX event in Germany, De Havilland tested European demand for the aircraft, which Short Brothers originally designed for short takeoff and landing operations on unpaved runways. De Havilland Canada, which acquired the type certificates through its Viking Air subsidiary, is studying feasibility for military variants suited to airdrops, paratroop missions, defense roles, and firefighting.
Vice President for Corporate Affairs Neil Sweeney stated during CANSEC that the U.S. Forest Service has approved the C-23 for smokejumper operations against forest fires. The company launched a market survey this year to evaluate demand against restart costs. Sweeney noted that production would only proceed for substantial orders, estimating no viability for runs of 10 but potential for 500, depending on recurring costs and market pricing. No timeline has been set for a final decision.