Enstrom is excited to announce 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 onsite.

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 new helicopter will be showcased at HAI. Stop in booth C2820 at Heli-Expo to see for yourself. Enstrom will retain the aircraft and use it to certify new upgrades and planned future improvements.