Editing Short Stirling (section)

===Proposed developments===
Even before the Stirling went into production, Short had improved on the initial design with the S.34 in an effort to meet specification B.1/39. It would have been powered by four Bristol Hercules 17 SM engines, optimised for high-altitude flight. The new design featured longer-span wings and a revised fuselage able to carry dorsal and ventral power-operated turrets each fitted with four 20&nbsp;mm Hispano cannons; despite the obvious gains in performance and capability, the Air Ministry was not interested.

In 1941, it was decided that the Stirling would be manufactured in [[Canada]] and an initial contract for 140 aircraft was placed.<ref name = "norris 12"/> Designated as the Stirling Mk.II, the Hercules engines were to be replaced by {{convert|1,600|hp|kW|abbr=on}} [[Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone|Wright GR-2600-A5B Twin Cyclone]] engines; a pair of prototypes was converted from Mk.I aircraft. However, it was decided to cancel the contract in favour of manufacturing other aircraft; thus, no production Mk.IIs was ever completed.<ref name = "norris 12"/>

Shorts also pursued the development of the Stirling for potential use on the civilian market.<ref name = "norris 13">{{harvnb|Norris|1966|p=13}}</ref> Designated S.37, it was a full-furnished transport aircraft that was capable of seating 30 passengers and was constructed to conform with civilian standards. A single prototype, known as the ''Silver Stirling'', was converted from a Mk.V aircraft; however, partially due to greater levels of interest being expressed for a more promising civilian version of the Handley-Page Halifax, the proposal met with little official interest.<ref name = "norris 13 14">{{harvnb|Norris|1966|pp=13–14}}</ref>

In 1941, Short proposed the development of a new variant of the Stirling, the S.36,{{refn|Not to be confused with a prototype light aircraft that was built in 1912, which was also known as the Short S.36.|group=N}} which was nicknamed the "Super Stirling" in a company publication.<ref name = "norris 13"/> This aircraft would have featured a wing span of {{convert|135|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}, four [[Bristol Centaurus]] radials and a maximum takeoff weight of {{convert|104,000|lb|kg}}. The projected performance estimates included a speed of {{convert|300|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and a {{convert|4,000|mi|km|adj=on}} range, along with a weapons load of {{convert|10000|lb}} over {{convert|2300|mi}}, or {{convert|23500|lb}} over {{convert|1000|mi}}. The defensive armament of the S.36 was to be an assortment of 10 [[.50 BMG]] machine guns that were set into three turrets.<ref name = "buttler 115 116"/>

The S.36 was initially accepted for testing under Specification B.8/41, which had been specifically written to cover the type, and an order for a pair of prototypes was placed. However, [[Arthur Harris]], as commander of [[RAF Bomber Command|Bomber Command]], felt that achieving bulk production of the type would take too much time and that the effort would be better expended on outfitting the existing design with improved Hercules engines with the aim of providing a higher operational altitude ceiling. While the Air Staff initially found the proposal to have some attraction, it was eventually decided to favour increased production rates of the rival Avro Lancaster, instead.<ref name = "norris 13"/> In May 1942, Shorts were informed that the Air Ministry would not be continuing the project; in August 1942, Shorts decided to terminate all work.<ref name = "buttler 115 116">{{Harvnb|Buttler|2004|pages=115–116}}</ref>