Farnborough 2026: DHC relaunches Sherpa airlifter to international market

More than 50-years after making its Farnborough International Airhosw debut in 1974, the Sherpa is again at the event as new owner DHC looks to reintroduce it to the market. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

DeHavilland-Canada (DHC) is relaunching the Sherpa airlifter to the international military and civil air transport markets, showcasing the aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 (FIA26) 52 years after its debut at the event in 1974.

Speaking on 21 July 2026, DHC vice-president corporate affairs, Neil Sweeney, said that the Canadian company was reviving the aircraft that was formerly built by Short in Northern Ireland, and that its appearance in the static display at FIA26 was the first step in gauging international interest.

“This is what we do [at DHC] – we take aircraft that we think still have life in them, and bring them back to life. We have done this with the Twin Otter and the Canadair, and now the Sherpa. It fits our mould for rugged aircraft that can get you in and out of tight spots,” Sweeney said, adding, “This is day 1 of reintroducing it to customers today.”

Nicknamed Pack Rat by DHC, the Sherpa SD3-60 version of the aircraft again being offered has a 25,600 lb gross weight, 7,240 lb cabin payload, and a 7 hr endurance out to 1,100 n miles on internal fuel (this can be extended with auxiliary tanks in the main cabin). As noted in Janes All the World's Aircraft: In-Service , the Sherpa has a take-off run of just 564 m and a landing run of 345 m, and can operate from small and unprepared airfields.