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Short Belfast on display at RAF Cosford Museum

One of only ten such aircraft, XR371 was named Enceladus after one of the giant children of Gaia in Greek mythology. The Belfast was, in its time, the largest aircraft in the RAF fleet weighing 56 tons empty, double that when fully laden. It could carry 150 fully-equipped troops, a Chieftain tank or two Wessex helicopters and even had the capacity to carry two single deck buses in its hold.
Belfasts operated all over the world on delivery flights for the armed forces but because of their inadequate range they were phased out of service in 1976. Sseveral were sold to by Heavy Lift Cargo Airlines Ltd. who operated them commercially carrying, among other varied cargo, equipment for the armed forces!
Enceladus was delivered to the RAF museum for preservation at Cosford in the Autumn of 1978.