Helicopter lovers from all over the world are very excited by the announcement by Enstrom regarding 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 on-site.
The stunning black and grey helicopter was piloted by Enstrom Production Test Pilot Cody Parkovich. “It flew great,” said Parkovich. “No issues. We were able to complete all our flight test steps on schedule. The team did a great job putting this helicopter together.”
Enstrom Chief Operating Officer Adam Richardson had this to say. “This was a critical milestone in our plan to not just bring back Enstrom but to start to reinvent ourselves and the way we operate. It took all functions to focus on the objective. New supplier relationships, new machinists and fabricators and luckily many from prior years, better print definitions, a high standard of workmanship, and everyone onsite helping each other cross-functionally to bring us back online.”
The Enstrom 480B is Enstroms flagship aircraft. Developed to US Army New Training Helicopter (NTH) requirements, this aircraft is known for its reputation for safety, stability, comfort, and value. The 480B combines power and weight with light agility at the controls. Experienced pilots attest to its unparalleled stability and solid craftsmanship. With the fewest number of retirement items and no airframe life limit, our 480Bs have lower direct operating costs and spend less time on the ground.
From Rudy Enstrom’s early designs in 1943 to initial testing in a Michigan Quarry in 1957 to aircraft operating on six continents, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has maintained a reputation for safety, value and performance. Enstrom has a rich history of design innovation. The goal is to provide helicopters to the customer’s exact specifications and deliver support and maintenance worldwide.
