31-Mar-2023Source: Enstrom
Fresh off a celebrated appearance at HAI HELI-EXPO in Atlanta, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation continues to impress at SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. SUN ‘n FUN draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to what has become known as “Spring Break for Pilots.” It features more than 500 exhibitors, hands-on workshops, and educational seminars.... Read more
9-Mar-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to reveal the development of a new RPM governor for Enstrom piston helicopters. Designed to aid pilots in maintaining rotor RPM, the new governor uses a digital controller and fast-acting servo motor to accurately control RPM. According to Bill Taylor, Enstrom’s VP of Engineering. “The pilot can set the RPM... Read more
9-Mar-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter is proud to announce that they have sold 12 helicopters at the HAI HELI-EXPO! “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... Read more
8-Mar-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation invites all rotorcraft enthusiasts to discover the new and improved Enstrom at this year’s HAI HELI-EXPO in Atlanta. The annual event features networking opportunities and hundreds of education courses with more than 14,000 industry professionals. A lot has changed for Enstrom since last year’s HELI-EXPO. New, visionary ownership has brought about company-wide... Read more
7-Mar-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom is excited to announce new all-glass instrument panels for 2023. Available on both the 480B and 280FX, the new panels bring state-of-the-art avionics and incredible capability to Enstrom helicopter cockpits. The new panels are designed around a Garmin G500H TXi EFIS display. Replacing traditional flight and navigation instruments, the G500 features a robust and... Read more
15-Feb-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom enters a new era of growth and expansion with new leadership at the helm. We are delighted to welcome Todd Tetzlaff back to the Enstrom family as incoming president. Todd is no stranger to the company. He first set foot in the Menominee, MI factory more than three decades ago when, while still a... Read more
31-Jan-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom is excited to announce the flight of the first new 480B Helicopter after reopening just eight months ago. The turbine-powered 480B is the 1317th Enstrom helicopter built, and the 255th 480 series helicopter. This aircraft wasn’t an unfinished left-over airframe, but was built using components procured, machined, fabricated, and assembled onsite. The stunning black... Read more
19-Jan-2023Source: Enstrom
Enstrom is pleased to announce that it has signed DSA a.s. as a Dealer and Service Center for Enstrom Helicopters in the Czech Republic. Located in Hradec Kralove, DSA provides aircraft sales, flight training, and maintenance for all models of Enstrom helicopters, as well as for other manufacturers and fixed-wing aircraft as well. “We knew... Read more
25-Oct-2022Source: Enstrom
After a tumultuous first half of 2022 for the storied Enstrom Helicopter Corp., the future is beginning to look bright once again. In January, after over 60 years of manufacturing helicopters, Enstrom was forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Shortly after, during HAI Heli-Expo 2022, Texas-based MidTex Aviation appeared ready to take over the reins... Read more
5-Oct-2022Source: HAI
Enstrom was recently excited to be visited by none other than Jim Viola, the President of HAI. HAI is the helicopter industry’s leading trade association. Not only do they host the Heli-Expo, our largest trade show, they are a leading voice in Washington and throughout the world speaking on behalf of helicopter operators, maintainers,... Read more
21-Jul-2022Source: Enstrom
Built from a passion for American ingenuity and entrepreneurship, Enstrom Helicopter was founded in 1959 with a focus on safety, value and performance – and that focus has never faltered. For over 60 years, Enstrom has been supplying quality-made parts and helicopters worldwide; from military and police applications to private and commercial flight uses.... Read more
18-Jul-2022Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce that it has signed Aero Facility Co, Ltd. as their representative for sales in the country of Japan. Aero Facility has the honor of being the first Representative signed back after Enstrom emerged out of Chapter 7 bankruptcy on May 13, 2022. Aero Facility was a long... Read more
7-Jun-2022
Helicopter remained upright in heavy landing. Fire reported. One report states “Charles Zimmer, 34, the registered owner of the aircraft, was pulled to safety and treated at the scene before he was flown to Miami Valley Hospital with life-threatening injuries. His wife, Krista Zimmer, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.” Another report... Read more
27-May-2022Source: Enstrom
A commitment to collaboration and a focus on creative problem-solving proved to be key in saving an Upper Peninsula helicopter manufacturer that had filed for bankruptcy and preserving 70-plus jobs. Acting as legal counsel for the Chapter 7 trustee, attorneys from Warner Norcross + Judd LLP worked to broker the sale of the Enstrom... Read more
25-May-2022Source: Surack
Chuck Surack, founder of Surack Enterprises, announced that he has purchased The Enstrom Helicopter Corporation of Menominee, Michigan to rebuild the Enstrom brand into one of the leading American-made helicopter manufacturer as it once was. In a letter to the Enstrom leadership team, Surack shared his appreciation to the employees for their devotion and... Read more
16-May-2022Source: Enstrom
Chuck Surack, founder of Surack Enterprises, announced that he has purchased The Enstrom Helicopter Corporation of Menominee, Michigan to rebuild the Enstrom brand into one of the leading American-made helicopter manufacturer as it once was. In a letter to the Enstrom leadership team, Surack shared his appreciation to the employees for their devotion and... Read more
12-Mar-2022Source: MidTex Aviation
MidTex Aviation, LLC (“MidTex”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of The Enstrom Helicopter Corporation (“Enstrom”), and plans to reopen the factory in Menominee, MI. The asset purchase agreement was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District... Read more
12-Mar-2022
Struck powerlines during take-off... Read more
1-Feb-2022Source: HeliHub.com
Under two weeks ago, the Michigan based manufacturer Enstrom Helicopter Corporation closed its doors and went into Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. There is no scope for a financial rearrangement (ie the US “Chapter 11” rules) and the company will be liquidated, and its assets sold off. Why did the company fail? What is now becoming... Read more
20-Jan-2022
Michigan based manufacturer Enstrom is to close Friday 21st January after 62 years. The company is filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which means the company is being liquidated and there is no potential for reorganisation. Enstrom celebrated its 60th birthday on 22nd December 2019, and a detailed report on how mining engineer Rudy Enstrom founded... Read more
14-Dec-2021
Crashed and burned out, with instructor and student receiving fatal injuries. News reel shows one helicopter suddenly losing altitude in a long parade of 9+ helicopters. One report indicates there was smoke was emanating from the helicopter while it was in flight. The fatalities were later named as Lt. Col. Panthong Banchongplaen, flight instructor and... Read more
8-Sep-2021
Landed hard, skid broke, helicopter rolled over... Read more
30-Jun-2021
FAA report “forced landing in a field”... Read more
9-May-2021
Autorotation landing. Skid stuck in ground during run-on landing, causing helicopter nose to hit ground and main blades to slice tail boom... Read more
8-Apr-2021
FAA – Skid stuck in mud while hover training, bending the skid... Read more
24-Feb-2021Source: Your Botswana
The second group of pilots from the Botswana Police Service Air Support Branch have arrived in South Africa for their second Enstrom 480B Helicopter Pilot Type Conversion Training course. See Full Story. ... Read more
10-Oct-2020
Helicopter was attempting to land on a trailer/dolly. One skid got caught, causing helicopter to come to rest on its side. The two passengers got out OK. Fire Brigade said it took crews about 50 minutes to extricate the pilot... Read more
24-Aug-2020
FAA report unexplained field landing... Read more
29-May-2020Source: HeliHub.com
GAMA, the General Aviation Manufacturers’ Association, has released it’s quarterly production report covering January to March 2020. This covers the general aviation aircraft shipments and billings for the first quarter of 2020. Piston, turboprop, business jet and rotorcraft deliveries declined across all segments during the first quarter of 2020 as compared to the first quarter... Read more
30-Jan-2020Source: Enstrom
Enstrom kicked off opening day of Heli-Expo 2020 in Anaheim with the announcement of a multi aircraft agreement with the Botswana Police-Air Support Branch. Mr. Keabetswe Makophe, the Commissioner of Police for the Botswana Police Service was on hand at the Enstrom Helicopter booth (2904) for the announcement that adds 3 Enstrom 480B turbine helicopters... Read more
9-Jan-2020Source: Defence Web
The Botswana Police Air Support branch has ordered three new Enstrom 480B turbine helicopters from Safomar Aviation and these will join its fleet of Airbus models. See Full Story. ... Read more
18-Dec-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is proud to be celebrating its 60th anniversary, December 22, 2019. From humble beginnings in the woods of northern Michigan, Enstrom has grown to become a storied aerospace manufacturer, having produced more than 1300 aircraft operated in over 50 countries around the world. Rudy Enstrom was a mining engineer in Crystal Falls,... Read more
11-Dec-2019
Aircraft crashed under into a field near Redwood road, after the pilot lost the tail rotor and started spinning.... Read more
26-Oct-2019
Details not yet known. Pilot suffered fatal injuries and passenger (pilot’s daughter) received injuries which are reportedly not life threatening... Read more
3-Oct-2019Source: Robert Swan
After an absence of some years, Enstrom Helicopter Corp now have an active new dealer in France. Rotor & Aircraft SA, based in Chartres, have taken delivery of the latest production example of the Enstrom 280FX. Serial number 2167, this aircraft was displayed at Heli-Expo in Atlanta following manufacture in March 2019. It was officially... Read more
2-Oct-2019Source: Air Forces Monthly
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) is receiving training on its latest batch of six Enstrom 480B helicopters ahead of delivery. Over the next four weeks, a total of 36 RTA pilots and mechanics will be visiting Enstrom facilities in Menominee, Michigan, to become trained to fly and support the turbine-powered helicopters. They will be split into two groups,... Read more
26-Jul-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom is pleased to announce that the Federal Aviation Administration has certified the Garmin GTN 750, a GPS/NAV/COMM multifunction display system in the Enstrom 480B. The GTN 750 features graphical flight planning, terrain mapping, air traffic viewing, detailed geo-referenced charting, satellite weather reporting and tons more. These features are all available on a tall touchscreen display... Read more
24-Jul-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is proud to be celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2019. From humble beginnings in the woods of northern Michigan, Enstrom has grown to become a storied aerospace manufacturer, having produced more than 1300 aircraft operated in over 50 countries around the world. Rudy Enstrom was a mining engineer in Crystal Falls, MI... Read more
22-Jul-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom is on display at the 50th EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh! Enstrom Helicopter Corporation will be displaying a state of the art 5 place turbine powered 480B, complete with an Aspen glass cockpit and Garmin avionics. Also on display will be a stunning 3 seat 280FX. The only turbocharged piston helicopter in production today,... Read more
22-Mar-2019
Training flight leading to fatal injuries of both the student and the instructor, named here as Michal Beneš... Read more
11-Mar-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation was pleased to deliver their newest 280FX to the French training company, Golf Tango at Heli-Expo in Atlanta. Gérard Taunay, founder of Golf Tango was on hand, along with François Gatineau, CEO of Rotor and Aircraft, the Enstrom dealer in France. This new 280FX will be operated from Golf Tango’s main base... Read more
11-Mar-2019Source: Enstrom
The newest Enstrom Helicopter service center was announced at Heli-Expo in Atlanta. Copter & Boat’s Dream, also known as Copter Company in France, is owned by Eddy Pacalis and is based in Cournonsec, West of Montpellier on the Mediterranean Riviera where they maintain 30+ helicopters including 6 Enstroms. Doug Smith, Director of Product Support at... Read more
8-Mar-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce the sale of 6 turbine powered 480B aircraft to M-Landarch, the Enstrom Representative in Thailand. The $12m contract includes flight and maintenance training, and the aircraft are expected to deliver in the second half of 2019. The helicopters will be used for ab-initio and advanced flight training. The... Read more
6-Mar-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter continues to invest in their piston line with improvements they debuted at Heli-Expo in Atlanta. The newest 280FX, which was on display in the Enstrom booth, showed off a redesign of the cabin doors, lighting upgrades including LED Forward (with Pulse) & Aft Landing Lights, a New Collective Design with Illuminated Control Panel,... Read more
6-Feb-2019Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce it has received Transport Canada validation of their model 480B helicopter on January 25, 2019. The 480B joins the other Enstrom models listed under FAA Type Certificate H1CE which have been approved for operation in Canada including the F-28A, 280, F-28C, F-28C-2, 280C, F-28F, 280F, and 280FX. “Enstrom... Read more
5-Nov-2018Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation was granted New Zealand Type Acceptance for its Enstrom F-28/280/480 Series helicopters by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand in September. “The Enstrom helicopters, with their rugged features and great safety record are a perfect fit for New Zealand,” said Dennis Martin, Director of Marketing and Sales. “The three bladed, fully... Read more
22-Oct-2018Source: Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation signed a contract at Helitech International to deliver a new 280FX into France. The deal is being completed by their dealer, François Gatineau, CEO of Rotor & Aircraft Sarl. This signing took place on October 17 at the Enstrom booth. This is the last step in the process to bring the Enstrom... Read more
28-Sep-2018Source: Enstrom Helicopter
Enstrom Helicopter is exhibiting with Safomar Aviation, Enstrom’s African distributor based in Johannesburg in the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD). AAD is a bi-annual show taking place at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria. Dennis Martin, Enstrom Director of Sales and Marketing, is joining the Safomar sales team at the show. On display are... Read more
24-Aug-2018Source: Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has certified Appareo’s Vision 1000 in the Enstrom 480B turbine helicopter. FAA certification for the Vision 1000 was granted in June followed by EASA and the Brazilian ANAC. Approval is in process with the Chinese CAAC and the CAA of Argentina. The Vision 1000 is Appareo’s FAA-certified cockpit recording device that captures attitude data,... Read more
14-Mar-2018Source: Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
During the week of February 5th, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation completed a successful acceptance of 4 piston 280FX helicopters to Global Services and Solutions of Pakistan. A team of inspectors from Global Services & Solutions led by co-owner Mr. Abdul Khaliq Awan and Mr. Ali Muhammad led the acceptance after a week-long inspection process at the... Read more
24-Jan-2018Source: HeliHub.com
The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board are putting their Enstrom 480B up for auction again. The helicopter was put on auction a week prior, reports Baltic Course, but no bids were made on it. They hope to sell the helicopter and with the money made, purchase a new fixed wing observation plane. The Enstrom... Read more
23-Oct-2017Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation signed a contract for six 480B-G turbine helicopters with LOM PRAHA TRADE a.s. in the Czech Republic. The Enstrom Representatives in the Czech Republic, Dan Tucek and Roland VanHees from DSA, provided the coordination for marketing, flight demonstrations, sales support and contract negotiations for this program. Known as the 480B-G, Enstrom’s turbine-powered... Read more
6-Oct-2017Source: Enstrom Helicopter
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce the sale of piston powered 280FX helicopters to Pakistan. This sale was managed by Enstrom’s representative in Pakistan, Global Services & Solutions. “It was a pleasure working with Mr. Abdul Khaliq Awan, the General Manager of Global Services & Solutions. This has been a great team effort and... Read more
5-Jun-2017Source: Enstorm
The TH-180 program has two prototype aircraft in the certification program. One is in flight test and the other (pictured) is engaged in a 100-hour ground run which is a rugged test of the drive system and controls. Several tests have been completed and the program is steadily progressing toward certification by the end of... Read more
10-May-2017
Helicopter had started the day in Pisa, flying north and refuelling at Bolzano. On next leg to Salzburg it encountered some difficulties and one report suggests it was on fire before reaching the ground and burning out in a ravine. Sole occupant pilot fatally injured – reported as a 75 year old Austrian national... Read more
8-Mar-2017Source: Enstrom
The latest Enstrom MODEL 480B to fly away from the factory has been delivered to Sharkey’s Helicopters. This aircraft with its beautiful paint job is the 4th ship to be sold through Sharkey’s in the past 12 months. The sales of 2 480Bs and 2 F28Fs along with the continued support of customers and Enstrom... Read more
6-Oct-2016Source: HeliHub.com
An Enstrom Helicopter N180TH had a problematic landing in February. The main rotor was destroyed when a rotor struck a utility pole, forcing an emergency landing. After investigation it as found that flight test equipment in the main drive was faulty, causing the engine to be disconnected from the drive train. Aviation Today reports that... Read more
1-Jun-2016Source: HeliHub.com
On Thursday May 26th, Enstrom resumed flight testing of the TH-180 with the second prototype – N181TH, seen in photos here. The aircraft was flown by Enstrom test pilot and Senior Technical Fellow, William Taylor. Taylor took the aircraft through a standard production-type acceptance, including all the hover and forward flight checks such as tracking... Read more
2-Mar-2016Source: Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce and Enstrom Helicopter Corporation have signed a new agreement to provideRolls-Royce M250 engines for the versatile 480B helicopter. The 480B is Enstrom’s flagship turbine helicopter, known for its combination of safety, stability, comfort and value. The five-seat aircraft serves as a military trainer, and is well suited for law enforcement, emergency medical and commercial, agricultural... Read more
1-Mar-2016Source: TH180
On February 12th, Enstrom Helicopter N180TH, the prototype TH-180 experienced a mechanical problem and made a forced landing. During the landing, the rotor struck a wooden utility pole, cutting off the pole and destroying the main rotor blades. The pilot, the only person on board, was uninjured. Preliminary investigation indicates that a piece of flight... Read more
23-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com
Heli-Expo is almost upon us, and it is a good time to both reflect on the year since the last event and look ahead to the future – hoping that we can see an improvement to give us a warm feeling inside. We look for new models being revealed, contracts being announced, the camaraderie of... Read more
15-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com
The sole Enstrom TH-180 development aircraft N180TH [pictured] had an accident on Friday, coming down in a residential area close to Marinette Twin County Airport in Menominee, Michigan where the manufacturer is based. The helicopter hit a power pole and some tree branches on 14th Avenue and crashed right-side up at 18th Street and 15th... Read more
12-Feb-2016
Test flight accident, coming down in residential area 600m short of runway 32 at Marinette Twin County Airport... Read more
20-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com
Robinson Helicopter Co registered serial number 0690 on 9th October (it’s N959BC, if you want to check). This is a landmark achievement in the five-seat single-turbine world as it is the point where the total passes the production to date of the EC120 (now H120). See also our comparison article between these two types from... Read more
9-Sep-2015
Helicopter struck and cut powercables on take-off, crashing in the field below shortly after, minor injuries to the pilot. Helicopter rolled over and ended up on its rotorhead... Read more
17-Aug-2015Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is continuing flight testing on the new TH180 helicopter. Originally announced at the 2014 HAI show, Enstrom has since taken a number of signed MOUs on the new helicopter designed for the ab-initio flight training, light commercial, and private owner market. “We are into the envelope expansion phase,” said Enstrom test pilot... Read more
22-Jul-2015
Details to be confirmed, but reported “in a nose down attitude in the business park”... Read more
19-Jul-2015
Heavy landing, and likely “unscheduled”. Main blades damaged and available photo shows some damage on starboard side. Skids not visible in long grass and nose of helicopter almost hit dry stone wall.... Read more
21-Jun-2015
The helicopter was landing on an unprepared, deeply cultivated field. During the vertical landing, the left skid settled into the soft ground and the helicopter entered into a dynamic rollover. There was substantial damage to the helicopter. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenger. CADORS 2015C2439... Read more
14-Jun-2015
Rolled over on landing... Read more
5-Jun-2015
The privately owned Enstrom 280FX helicopter, was being flown from Bralorne to Langley. The pilot/owner ditched the aircraft in the Harrison River. The pilot was not injured but the aircraft was significantly damaged. CADORS 2015P0926... Read more
1-Jun-2015Source: Enstrom
On May 21, 2015, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation was awarded the 2015 Business of the Year Award from the Michigan Works Job Force Board. The Michigan Works! System is a unified workforce development system that is an instrumental partner for developing Michigan’s economic future. The Enstrom factory expansion project along with increased employment has given Menominee... Read more
13-Mar-2015
Minor damage after skid touched ground while hovering... Read more
4-Mar-2015Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce that the final 4 Enstrom 480B turbine training helicopters were accepted by the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. The aircraft were delivered by Aero Facility Co Ltd, Enstrom’s authorized sales representative in Japan. The 480B was originally selected by the JGSDF in 2010 to replace their fleet of... Read more
4-Mar-2015Source: Enstrom
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is pleased to announce that the newest member of its family, the TH180, successfully completed ground run and first flight on February 6, 2015 at its facilities in Menominee, Michigan. “This is a milestone achievement for Enstrom and we look forward to continuing our flight test program as move toward the certification... Read more
