Enstrom 480

Last updated
Enstrom 480
JGSDF TH-480B(cropped).jpg
A Enstrom 480 of the JGSDF
General information
TypeLight helicopter
Manufacturer Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
Number built142 (as of July 2011)
History
Manufactured1993-present
Introduction date1993
First flight7 October 1989
Developed from Enstrom 280

The Enstrom 480 is a small, light helicopter produced by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. [1]

Contents

Design and development

In the 1980s the Enstrom Helicopter Company was producing two helicopters, both powered by horizontally-opposed piston engines. When the United States Army revealed a requirement for a turbine-powered training helicopter, the company designed a larger, turbine-powered version of its 280 Shark. The proposed unit was designated TH28 (TH for "training helicopter" derived from the 28(0), since the Army's proposal was NTH, "new training helicopter").

The Army contract effort was not successful, [2] but the company effort looked promising enough that management committed to continue with a commercial version, which was introduced in 1993. Its power was provided by the C20W variant of the Rolls-Royce Model 250 turboshaft engine.

Design

The 480 fuselage consists of a welded steel-tube framework with aluminum cover and tailcone. The pilot controls the aircraft from the left seat, which is unusual for helicopters. The aircraft does not have a hydraulic system; a trim system absorbs rotor feedback and allows the pilot to position the desired stick setting. [3] The 480B engine is capable of producing 420 shp, but in this application it is derated to 305 shp for 5 minutes and 277 continuous shp, which is available to 13,000 MSL on a standard day. Thus hot-temperature or high-altitude operations have a considerable degree of power available. The engine drives a three-bladed rotor of 32 feet diameter and a tail rotor of 5 feet diameter. The main rotor and hubs weigh a total of 300 pounds, so there is considerable inertia in the system during a loss of power. Autorotation landings are uneventful. [4]

Variants

480
Five-seat civil version based on the Enstrom TH-28, certified in November 1993. [5]
Enstrom 480B in flight Enstrom480B.jpg
Enstrom 480B in flight
480B
Enhanced and with increased gross weight (3000 lb) and power limits, certified in February 2001 in the US. [5] and in February 2019 in Canada. [6] The gross weight and useful load were increased by approximately 150 pounds.
480B Guardian
480B configured for police or law enforcement operations, fitted with a front-mounted camera and searchlight. [7]
TH-28
Based on the Enstrom 280FX with a turbine engine, a larger cabin and larger horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Certified in September 1992 [5] Military training, light patrol version, six built.

Operators

Civil operators

The aircraft is operated by a large number of small commercial and flight training operators, most operating one or two aircraft.

Military and government operators

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic

Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia

Former operators

Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia

Specifications (480)

Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004 [17]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin</span> Multi-role helicopter family by Aérospatiale

The EurocopterAS365 Dauphin (Dolphin), also formerly known as the Aérospatiale SA 365 Dauphin 2, is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters. It was originally developed and manufactured by French firm Aérospatiale, which was merged into the multinational Eurocopter company during the 1990s, and since 2014 Eurocopter was renamed Airbus Helicopters. Since entering production in 1975, the type has been in continuous production for more than 40 years, with the last delivery in 2021. The intended successor to the Dauphin is the Airbus Helicopters H160, which entered operational service in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hughes OH-6 Cayuse</span> 1963 scout helicopter

The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people, while its "Loach" nickname is derived from Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program under which it was procured, and likely the word "chopper", a common nickname for helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 206</span> Utility helicopter family by Bell

The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- and twin-engined helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec, plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, it was not selected by the Army. Bell redesigned the airframe and successfully marketed the aircraft commercially as the five-place Bell 206A JetRanger. The new design was eventually selected by the Army as the OH-58 Kiowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon</span> 1962 transport helicopter family

The AérospatialeSA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by aerospace manufacturer Sud Aviation of France. It held the distinction of being the most powerful helicopter to be built in Europe at one point, as well as being the world's fastest helicopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mil Mi-34</span> Russian light helicopter

The Mil Mi-34 is a light helicopter designed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant in either a two or four seat configuration for utility and training. It was first flown on 17 November 1986 and introduced at the Paris Air Show in 1987. The Mi-34 entered production in 1993, and is capable of performing aerobatic manoeuvres, including rolls and loops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurocopter EC135</span> Small utility helicopter

The Airbus Helicopters H135 is a twin-engine civil light utility helicopter produced by Airbus Helicopters, formerly Eurocopter. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) and is outfitted with a digital automatic flight control system (AFCS). First flying in February 1994, it entered service in 1996. 1,400 have been delivered up to September 2020, to 300 operators in 60 countries, accumulating over 5 million flight hours. It is mainly used for air medical transport (medevac), corporate transport, law enforcement, offshore wind support, and military flight training. Half of them are in Europe and a quarter in North America. The H135M, certified under the name Eurocopter EC635, is a military variant, so the overall design is known as the Airbus Helicopters H135 and the military version, as the Airbus Helicopters H135M. The EC135/H135 is a development of the earlier Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) Bo 105.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaman HH-43 Huskie</span> Helicopter with intermeshing rotors in use by the US military from the 1950s to the 1970s

The Kaman HH-43 Huskie is a helicopter developed and produced by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Kaman Aircraft. It is perhaps most distinctive for its use of twin intermeshing rotors, having been largely designed by the German aeronautical engineer Anton Flettner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schweizer S300</span> Helicopter model

The Schweizer S300 series family of light utility helicopters was originally produced by Hughes Helicopters, as a development of the Hughes 269. Later manufactured by Schweizer Aircraft, and currently produced by Schweizer RSG, the basic design has been in production for over 50 years. The single, three-bladed main rotor and piston-powered S300 is mostly used as a cost-effective platform for training and agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 412</span> Utility transport helicopter family by Bell

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been popular on the civilian and military markets, and major users include Canada, Italy, and Japan. Several hundred have been produced since its introduction in 1979, and several iterations of upgrades and variations have been produced, such as with upgraded cockpit electronics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hughes TH-55 Osage</span> Piston-powered light training helicopter produced for the United States Army

The Hughes TH-55 Osage is a piston-powered light training helicopter produced for the United States Army. It was also produced as the Model 269 family of light utility helicopters, some of which were marketed as the Model 300. The Model 300C was produced and further developed by Schweizer after 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 214</span> American helicopter

The Bell 214 is a medium-lift helicopter derived from Bell Helicopter's ubiquitous UH-1 Huey series. The Bell 214ST shares the same model number, but is a larger, much-modified twin-engine derivative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MD Helicopters MD 500</span> Light utility helicopter family

The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach. The series currently includes the MD 500E, MD 520N, and MD 530F.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schweizer S333</span>

The Schweizer 330 and S333 are turbine-powered developments of the Schweizer 300 light piston-powered helicopter. As of 2007, only the Schweizer 333 remains in production. In February 2009, the 333 was rebranded as the Sikorsky S-333. In 2018 the Schweizer R.S.G. bought the Schweizer Aircraft from Sikorsky Aircraft and it was rebranded as Schweizer S333 again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enstrom Helicopter Corporation</span> American helicopter manufacturing company

The Enstrom Helicopter Corporation is an American helicopter aerospace manufacturer, based at the Menominee–Marinette Twin County Airport in Michigan, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 204/205</span> American helicopter series

The Bell 204 and 205 are the civilian versions of the UH-1 Iroquois single-engine military helicopter of the Huey family of helicopters. They are type-certificated in the transport category and are used in a wide variety of applications, including crop dusting, cargo lifting, Forestry Operations, and aerial firefighting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enstrom F-28</span> Light, piston-powered helicopter family

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 201</span>

The Bell Model 201 was created using a modified Model 47G and was the first Bell helicopter to use a turbine engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-434</span> Light turbine-powered helicopter

The Sikorsky S-434 is a light, turbine-powered helicopter. The S-434 is an improved development of the Schweizer S333.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell 47J Ranger</span> Type of aircraft

The Bell 47J Ranger is an American single-engine single-rotor light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was an executive variant of the highly successful Bell 47 and was the first helicopter to carry a United States president.

The Spitfire Mark I was a utility helicopter built in the United States in the late 1970s and intended for series production. In essence, the Mark I was an Enstrom F-28 that was modified to use an Allison 250 turboshaft engine and geared transmission in place of the original piston engine and system of vee belts. The resulting powerplant installation was lighter and more compact, which allowed for additional cargo or fuel.

References

  1. Apostolo, Giorgio: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters, pages 64-65. Bonanza Books, New York, 1984. ISBN   0-517-43935-2
  2. Bell Helicopter Company won the bid, with a militarized version of its 206 JetRanger. (Stephen Pope Enstrom 480B, Flying, September 2011, pp. 60-65)
  3. Failure of the trim system would require a fifteen-pound control force. (Flying, p. 65)
  4. Flying, p. 62: " . . it was a nonevent that seemed more like a slightly steeper-than-normal approach with a gentle touchdown . ."
  5. 1 2 3 Federal Aviation Administration (23 May 2018). "Type Certificate Data Sheet No. H1CE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  6. Drinkwater, Steve (7 February 2019). "Enstrom 480B Helicopter Cleared for Takeoff in Canada". copanational.org. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  7. Police Chief (magazine) website
  8. Warnes, Alan (26 June 2018). "Czech CLV flight training centre receives first two Enstrom 480B-Gs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. IHS Markit. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. "Equatorial Guinea Air Force". 3 March 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  10. "Enstrom History". enstromhelicopter.com. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  11. "Enstrom ships second TH-480B for the JGSDF". shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  12. "Deliveries of Enstrom 480 to Royal Thai Army pass the half-way mark". helihub.com. 12 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  13. "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  14. Phelps, Mark (24 April 2023). "Enstrom Inks Deal For Two Helicopters With Zambia's Air Force". AVweb. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  15. Fantauzzi, Joe (6 July 2012). "York Regional Police extends helicopter contract with Vaughan firm". Aurora Banner. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023./
  16. Rudi, Hanneli (23 June 2018). "Politsei sai ohtralt peavalu põhjustanud kopterist lahti". www.postimees.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  17. Frawley Civil 2003. p.