PARIS: Enstrom enters piston single training arena with new two-seat helicopter
Looks like Frank is going to have some competition for both of his product lines!
Enstrom Helicopter is turning up the heat in the closely fought piston single helicopter market with a new two-seat offering under development.
The Paris air show debutant says it is also looking to produce a new entrant in the light turbine helicopter sector to rival the new short light single being developed by Bell Helicopter and the in-production Eurocopter EC120 Colibri and Robinson R66.
"We want to offer a larger 5-seat version of our 480B but with more power and an asking price to rival our competitors," says Enstrom chief executive Jerry Mullins. "We are hoping to get the go-ahead from our parent company Chongqing Helicopter Investment [CQHIC] then we can press ahead with development".
CQHIC acquired Menominee, Michigan-based Enstrom in December last year from Segway inventor Dean Kamen. The investment firm has stated its intentions to expand the helicopter family, with Asia a key market for the existing and new helicopter lines. As well as the 480B, Enstrom also produces two piston-engined models - the F-28F and the 280FX - which will be built alongside the new design.
The two-seat, as yet untitled helicopter, will be pitched against the R44 and the Schweizer S-300 series in the hotly contested training market. The aircraft will be a smaller version of Enstrom's 280FX three-seat piston single.
"It will retain the 280's key features such as the unblocked tail rotor and the inertia rotor system, but it will have a smaller nose and tail and will be powered by a different [undisclosed] Lycoming engine," says Mullins.
"We are also looking at other features such as a graphite cockpit to make the aircraft as light as possible," Mullins adds. The aircraft is earmarked for certification next year.
"We hope to capture a large share Asian pilot training market, particularly in China where there is growing demand," says Mullins.