N161Z

N161Z is a Shorts 360, a twin-engine turboprop operated by USDA FOREST SERVICE, FIRE & AVIATION. SkyMeter has tracked 58 flights totalling 76 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is KTUS to KTUS. Service window in our records spans 383 days. Of those flights, 4 (6.9%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Shorts 360 has a 75 ft wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 27,117 lb.

About the Shorts 360

The Short 360 is a boxy, utilitarian commuter turboprop built by Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 1981 through 1991. Developed as a stretched, squared-off derivative of the earlier Short 330, the 360 earned the affectionate nickname "Shed" for its slab-sided fuselage, a design driven by cargo-hauling practicality rather than aerodynamic elegance. With seating for up to 36 passengers in a three-abreast cabin, it became a workhorse for regional airlines and freight operators across North America, Europe, and beyond during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65R turboprops producing 1,424 shaft horsepower each, the Short 360 cruises at around 200 knots and offers a range of approximately 480 nautical miles with full payload. Its high wing, fixed landing gear, and rear cargo door made it exceptionally versatile for mixed passenger-freight operations and short, unpaved runways. The type's rugged construction and STOL capabilities allowed it to serve remote communities and challenging airfields where larger regional jets could not operate. Though production ended over three decades ago, the 360 remains in service today primarily as a freighter, valued for its large cargo volume and reliability.

While never glamorous, the Short 360 carved out a loyal niche among operators who prioritized payload capacity and operational flexibility over speed or passenger comfort. Its distinctive appearance, often compared to a flying shipping container, made it instantly recognizable on the ramp. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.