NEW FOCUS ON GENERAL AVIATION AND TRAINING
Enstrom’s first goal under Surack’s new ownership was taking care of its current customer base, with both spares and fleet ops support. Over the past year, the company has delivered spare and overhaul parts to customers on all six continents where Enstrom helicopters are flown. “Our spare part arrears are down to less than seven unique parts, from over 100 when Chuck reopened the business in 2022,” Richardson said.
Now, the business is segueing into Surack’s top overall goal: to make Enstrom a leading helicopter manufacturer once more, focusing on general aviation and training.
Enstrom leaders were passionate about creating the F-28F piston in the 1970s and customers felt that, Richardson related. Countless pilots bought it after learning to fly in it. More than 600 of the company’s 1,200 helicopter sales were in the 1970s. Then Enstrom created a great turbine product in the 1990s with the 480B, but didn’t market it or look at tweaking it enough for general aviation consumption, mainly selling it to governments, Richardson said.
“We make a great helicopter,” Richardson said. “People love to fly it. Pilots come in who have never flown an Enstrom but have flown Black Hawks and many other large airframes and they’re shocked. They say things like, ‘This thing has such smooth control.’ It’s nimble but has a heavy presence that gives the pilot confidence in his ability to ‘feel’ the aircraft. It’s why so many militaries across the world rely on our turbine to be the helicopter of choice for training pilots. Come fly our turbine through the paces compared to our competition and you’ll feel the difference. We don’t hide behind hydraulic controls because we don’t have to. We want our pilots to know what a little feedback feels like. It’s the helicopter you want to learn in.”
Surack wants his rotorcraft to look as nice as they fly, Richardson added. He’s the kind of guy who notices the form and fit of a vehicle. “He doesn’t want just one piece of the puzzle, he wants the whole picture,” Richardson related. “Our 480B is great to fly; let’s make it great on the eye and great to sit in.” With that attention to detail in mind, this year’s new 480B Elite features exclusive paint schemes and refined interior designs. Legendary airbrush artist Dean Loucks has designed bold, clean paint patterns that attract attention. Advanced interior trim and color packages will be included to match the designer paint jobs.
“This is the option for personal owners who want all the accoutrements,” said Charles Wade, Enstrom’s senior vice president of product, sales and customer excellence.
The 480B Elite model package features an all-glass digital instrument panel, Garmin G500H avionics, GTN750/GTN650 digital audio radios, ADS-B In/Out surveillance, Genesys autopilot, and air conditioning.
The 480B Signature will become the new baseline for what Enstrom will market to owner operators, with optional upgrades available. The 480B Signature includes comparable features for engine indication, avionics, radios and surveillance. Other features, including autopilot and air conditioning, can be added to the Signature model for an additional cost.
The standard 480B will remain a legacy product for customers who just want the basics or prefer analog engine indication and avionics systems.
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