Enstrom F-28
The Enstrom F-28 and 280 are a family of small, light piston-engined helicopters produced by the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.[1]
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.[2]
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.[1]
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
- F-28
- Certified April 1965.[1][3]
- F-28A
- Initial production version. Certified May 1968.[1][3]
- T-28
- Turbine powered.[1]
- F-28B
- Turbocharged version.[1]
- F-28C
- Fitted with an upgraded engine with turbocharger, and a two piece windscreen. Certified 1975[1][3]
- 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[1][3]
- F-27F-P
- Police patrol version developed for the Pasadena Police Department. It is equipped with searchlights, FLIR and a PA system.
280
- 280 Shark
- Certified September 1975.[1]
- 280C Shark
- Aerodynamically refined version of the F28C-2, equipped with an upgraded engine, fitted with a turbocharger. Certified 1975[1]
- 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[3]
- 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[3]
Operators
Military operators
- Chile
- Colombia
- Peru
- Venezuela
Law enforcement operators
- Indonesia
- Indonesian National Police
- Thailand
- Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
- United States
Specifications (F28F)
Data from Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: Two passengers
- Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.91 m)
- Rotor diameter: 32 ft (9.75 m)
- Height: 9 ft (2.74 m)
- Disc area: 804 ft² (74.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,570 lb (712 kg)
- Loaded weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
- Useful load: 1,030 lb (467 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming HIO-360-F1AD piston engine, 225 hp (168 kW)
Performance
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
External links
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