Enstrom 480
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation · United States · first flew 1989 · helicopter
The Enstrom 480 is a US light helicopter developed from a military trainer competition, seating up to five and built on Enstrom's signature welded steel-tube airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.09 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unusual left-seat pilot position
- Three-blade fully articulated main rotor on a welded steel-tube airframe
- Bulbous nose with a roomy up-to-five-seat cabin
The left-seat pilot position, three-blade rotor, bulbous nose and substantial cabin distinguish it from smaller two-seat light helicopters.
Specifications
- The Enstrom 480 has a length of 9.09 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 211 km/h (131 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The 480 grew out of Enstrom's TH-28 entry in a 1980s US Army light turbine-trainer contest. The 480 first flew in 1989, with the commercial 480 introduced in the early 1990s and the improved 480B following from 2001. It is powered by a single Rolls-Royce 250-series engine.
Variants
Models include the original 480, the higher-performance 480B and the earlier TH-28 military trainer, of which only a handful were built.
Where you'll see it
It is used internationally as a civil and military training helicopter and for private and utility flying. UK presence is limited compared with the lighter Robinson and Cabri trainers.
Related aircraft
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