Enstrom Helicopter has revealed that it sold 12 helicopters at HELI-EXPO 2023. “We came into the show with some very high sales expectations, and we are thrilled with the results,” said Dennis Martin, Vice President Sales & Marketing.
In addition to a new glass panel system available on both the 480B and 280FX models, Enstrom helicopters will also be equipped with a brand-new interior as well as having a signature paint scheme by the renowned artist Dean Loucks. “I’ve met with many people this week who have come to our booth expressing interest in our aircraft and even more who have said how happy they are to see that Enstrom’s back and how excited they are that we’re manufacturing helicopters again,” said Chuck Surack, owner of Enstrom Helicopter.
The order announcement comes hot on the heels of the release on Wednesday, 8 March, that it has developed a new RPM governor for its piston helicopters. Designed to aid pilots in maintaining rotor RPM, the new governor uses a digital controller and fast-acting servo motor to control RPM accurately.
According to Bill Taylor, Enstrom’s VP of Engineering. “The pilot can set the RPM anywhere in the green, and then beep it up and down within the allowable range, just like on a turbine helicopter. During autorotation training, it will automatically maintain the RPM just below the green. During the power recovery, it will quickly and reliably increase engine RPM and marry the needles, meaning the student and the instructor won’t ‘forget to roll the throttle back on’, and the engine won’t overspeed during recovery.”
According to Enstrom’s CEO, Todd Tetzlaff, safety and convenience are what drove the design of the new governor. “Enstroms are known to be some of the safest and easiest flying helicopters in their class, and the existing correlator system is a big part of that. This new digital governor takes it to a whole new level,” he said.
The governor system will be available on new model 280FX and F28F helicopters and available as a retrofit to any 28-volt 280FX and F28F helicopters in the field.
