There are lots of scrapped Enstroms about as a lot were imported to the UK in the 70s and 80s. What happened is that as they aged and depreciated the cost of maintenance increased. Eventually they ended up in the hands of people who wanted/could only afford a cheap helicopter. This usually coincided with a major overhaul becoming due at great cost. The owner could not justify the cost so the aircraft was abandoned or scrapped even though overhaul was possible.
The problem was that the people with the money needed to overhaul a clapped out Enstrom would not be seen dead in an old Enstrom.
What is happening now is that the value in these abandoned airframes is being seen and a few are being resurrected.
This is what happened to mine. The airframe is 30 years old and it was rebuilt from almost dead 3 years ago. It now has 1000+ hours left on all major components and will probably still be flying in another 30 years. Quite a few Ppruners have flown in it and all seem genuinely impressed.
The original data plate was lost but the log books existed. There was enough information on the remaining components for the CAA to identify it and allow a new data plate to be made by Enstrom.
Moral. Dont break it up when its had it. It could have a new lease of life later.
Edited cos I can't type!
Last edited by Gaseous; 10th May 2005 at 17:28.