10/31/2008. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The design of the private venture Skyvan light transport was based on the Miles H.D.M.106 Caravan. Design was started in 1959, while construction of the prototype began in 1960. The prototype was powered by a pair of 390 hp Continental GTSIO-520 six-cylinder engines and was registered G-ASCN on August 7, 1962. It was flown for the first time by Dennis Taylor, Shorts Chief Test Pilot, from Sydenham airfield, Belfast, Northern Ireland, on January 17, 1963.

Earlier it already had been decided that the following prototypes and series aircraft were to be powered by two Turboméca Astazou turboprops. G-ASCN was also re-engined with two 632 shp Astazou X turboprops and redesignated Srs.1A it flew as such for the first time on October 2, 1963. The aircraft was used for development and as a demonstrator till it was permanently withdrawn from use on February 26, 1968, it was scrapped in November 1976.

The Srs.2 aircraft (initially named Turbo-Skyvan), were powered by the 690 shp Astazou XII, and the prototype G-ASCO flew for the first time on October 29, 1965. However, the Astazou XII could not meet performance specifications under hot and high-altitude conditions and on May 26, 1967 the 750 shp AiResearch TPE-331-201 turboprop was chosen. The first Srs.3 to fly was
G-ASZI, which had originally been the third prototype equipped with Astazous, and the first flight was made on December 15, 1967.

A total of 152 Skyvans were produced: 1 Srs.1/1A, 17 Srs.2, and 134 Srs.3, while 10 Srs.2 were converted to Srs.3."