Enstrom F-28

Enstrom F-28

By Wikipedia,
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enstrom_F-28

F-28 / 280

An Enstrom F-28F used by Universal Helicopters of Newfoundland and Labrador for training, 1988
Role	Light helicopter
Manufacturer	Enstrom Helicopter
Introduced	1965
Produced	1965-present
Variants	Enstrom 480

An Enstrom F-28C on inflatable floats with a scrapped Enstrom in the background, 1986

The Enstrom F-28 and 280 are a family of small, light piston-engined helicopters produced by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.

Design and development

Since delivering their first helicopter shortly after Federal Aviation Administration type certification of the F-28 model in April 1965, Enstrom helicopter has produced (as of 2007) approx 1,200 aircraft.

The company produces three models, the F-28, the more aerodynamic 280 and the turbine-engined 480, each with their own variants. The F-28 and 280 both use Lycoming piston engines virtually identical to those found in general aviation fixed-wing aircraft.

The 280 was a huge design success, with a Boston-based design firm concluding a brief to make the F28 more commercially appealing. This resulted in the 280 later being named by Fortune (magazine) as one of the 25 best factory-made products in the United States.

Variants

F-28

1973 model F-28A

F-28: Certified April 1965.
F-28A: Initial production version. Certified May 1968.
T-28: Turbine powered.
F-28B: Turbocharged version.
F-28C: Fitted with an upgraded engine with turbocharger, and a two piece windscreen. Certified 1975
F-28C-2: Fitted with a more rounded cabin, a single piece windsrceen and new console.
F-28F Falcon: Similar to F-28C with more powerful engine, improved turbocharger and addition of a throttle corellator. Certified December 1980
F-27F-P: Police patrol version developed for the Pasadena Police Department. It is equipped with searchlights, FLIR and a PA system.

280

Enstrom 280FX Shark, an aerodynamically restyled Enstrom F-28 for the corporate market

280 Shark: Certified September 1975.
280C Shark: Aerodynamically refined version of the F28C-2, equipped with an upgraded engine, fitted with a turbocharger. Certified 1975
280L Hawk: Stretched cabin four-seat version, first flying in December 1968. Development halted due to lack of funds.
280F: Similar to 280C with more powerful engine, improved turbocharger and addition of a throttle correlator. Certified December 1980
280FX: Based on the 280F with landing gear fairings, redesigned air intakes on top of the cabin and a redesigned a relocated horizontal stabilizer with vertical end plates. Certified in January 1985