Short Brothers The Rochester Years

The story of Short Brothers at Rochester, a period of time when the company designed and manufactured their Stirling bomber and Sunderland flying boat. It was at Rochester that Shorts also specialised in the building of large passenger-carrying flying boats, these used by Imperial Airways to establish regular long-distance over water air routes.

Short Brothers was established in 1908, the first British aircraft manufacturer, with the company moving to Rochester during the early years of the First World War. At Rochester Shorts produced some of their most famous aircraft, beginning with a number of designs for the Royal Naval Air Service. During the inter-war years the company specialised in large flying boats, these undertaking pioneering flights while establishing a series of regular over water air routes operated by Imperial Airways. At Rochester the Company designed and manufactured the Stirling bomber and Sunderland flying boat. 'Shorts: the Rochester Years' not only looks at the development of those aircraft, but is a fascinating account of the early years of long-distance aviation and the airmen that used the River Medway at Rochester as a launch pad for flights of hitherto undreamed of distances.