Spitfire Helicopters Mark I
Spitfire Helicopters · United States · first flew 1978 · helicopter
The Spitfire Mark I was an American utility helicopter of the late 1970s intended for series production. It was an Enstrom F-28 modified to use an Allison 250 turboshaft engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single main rotor with a tail rotor
- Allison 250 turboshaft in place of the Enstrom F-28's piston engine
- Small utility helicopter derived from the Enstrom F-28
Look for an Enstrom F-28 lookalike with a turbine engine installation behind the cabin.
Specifications
- The Spitfire Helicopters Mark I has a length of 8.96 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 208 km/h (129 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Fetsko Aviation Sales and Transportation began work on the prototype in January 1976. The prototype, registered N4890, first flew in December 1978.
Variants
The turbine conversion replaced the F-28's piston engine and vee-belt system with the Allison 250 and a geared transmission. This was lighter and more compact, allowing extra cargo or fuel, and a Mark II was also offered.
Where you'll see it
Spitfire had sold 42 Mark Is and Mark IIs by July 1979, but depended on Enstrom for airframes, and Enstrom stopped supplying them in November 1979. A Spanish joint venture to build it came to nothing.
Related aircraft
- Spitfire Mark II Tigershark
- Airbus AS332 Super Puma
- Helibras HB350B Esquilo
- Aérospatiale AS355 Écureuil 2
- Agusta-Bell AB412 Grifone
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