Enstrom 480

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Enstrom 480
A Enstrom 480 of the
JGSDF
Role Light helicopter
Manufacturer Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
First flight 7 October 1989
Introduction 1993
Produced 1993-present
Number built 142 (as of July 2011)
Developed from
Enstrom 280

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

Design and development

In the 1980s the Enstrom Helicopter Company was producing two helicopters, both powered by horizontally-opposed piston engines. When the

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
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

 Czech Republic

  • CLV flight training[8]
 Equatorial Guinea
  • Military of Equatorial Guinea[9]
 Indonesia
 Japan
 Thailand
 Venezuela
 Zambia

Former operators

 Canada
 Estonia

Specifications (480)

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

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: four passengers
  • Length: 29 ft 10 in (9.09 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
  • Empty weight: 1,675 lb (760 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,850 lb (1,293 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Model 250-C20W turboshaft , 285 hp (215 kW)
  • Main rotor diameter: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Main rotor area: 804 sq ft (74.7 m2)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 131 mph (211 km/h, 114 kn)
  • Range: 435 mi (700 km, 378 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (3,962 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.62 m/s)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. 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. ^ a b c 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 (2018-06-28). "Czech CLV flight training centre receives first two Enstrom 480B-Gs". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. IHS Markit. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Equatorial Guinea Air Force". 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. 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. "Politsei sai ohtralt peavalu põhjustanud kopterist lahti". www.postimees.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  17. ^ Frawley Civil 2003. p.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Enstrom 480.
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