Not Just Another Pretty Set Of Rotors

While perusing the wares at HAI 2008, we had the chance to catch up with a helicopter that, frankly, rarely seems to get the attention it deserves.

Enstrom's 480B, a carefully updated and accomplished turbine helicopter may be one of the industry's best kept secrets but we're pleased to see that the secret seems to be finally giving way to more attention for a solid rotorcraft.

Enstrom tells us that the 480 series was developed to provide a more affordable, but equally competent, light turbine helicopter to a market historically dominated by the Bell 206B Jet Ranger and MD500. A thorough development program, which included three test aircraft and over 1500 hours of flight verification, led to FAA certification to FAR 27 standards in 1994. FAR 27 is a more current and rigorous certification basis than that achieved by the competitors in this class.

The moist recent iteration, the 480B series, has now been certified in 16 countries and has already been operated in 18 countries. With over 90 aircraft in the field now, the 480B is proving to be a popular choice for a wide range of applications, including personal transport, flight instruction, law enforcement, power line patrol, executive transport (charter), electronic news gathering, pipeline patrol, aerial photography, sightseeing, and cargo/passenger delivery.

The E-480B boasts a Gross Weight of 3,000 lbs, an Empty Weight (Std. Equip.) of 1,820 lbs, and a Useful Load of as much as 1,180 lbs. The 480B cruises as fast as 109 kts (TAS @ 3,000 ft./3000 lbs.), with a Service Ceiling of 10,000 ft (at 3000 lbs.). The 90 gal fuel capacity offers a max range of 370 NM at 3000 ft (with an endurance of 4.5 hours). The Enstrom is powered by a 420 SHP Rolls-Royce 250-C20W Turbine offering a Max Rate of Climb (@ SL/3000 lbs.) of 1,600 fpm. Hover ceilings measure out at 12,300 ft (HIGE at 3000 lbs.), while the Hover Out of Ground Effect (HOGE) capabilities are tagged at 5400 feet (again, at 3000 lbs).

Hover On In And Join Aero-TV As We Check Out The Enstrom 480B

FMI: www.enstromhelicopter.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews