Enstrom 280
Just for the 'reggie buffs' who haunt this thread.
As Tim P notes, in 1998 I had G-SHRK built from the Barry Sheene 280C ... G-GBMX, by the Stephenson firm at Goodwood, as a non-turbo version. I flew 100 hours of training on her with the purchasers at Shoreham before she was sold to Belgium in 1999.
However the G-SHAA and G-SHRK Sharks were far from the only non-turbo 280s to come into the country (the Greg Focella Shark Shape & SH for my company, Starline Helicopters.)
In March 1973 Spooner Aviation, the Enstrom European Distributor at the time, imported 280, S/N 1017 registered G-BDIB which, I'm pretty sure was followed by the last new 280, being G-BEYR. My log book tells me I displayed G-BDIB every day at the Farnborough show commencing 3rd September 1976. With 60lbs of fuel and just the pilot on board, even the non-turbo Enstrom was a great display performer. I think she later became G-LONS for the Lons Country Club at Bristol. (Graham Miller)
Now here's an oddball ... Both 280 & 280C had a factory quoted power output of 205 bhp from the HIO 360 Lycoming C series. Rate of climb for the non-turbo was 750 fpm. The turbo 280C version made 1175 fpm!
ROC is simply a measure of power over weight, so either the C model had more power or the 280 must have had less! At the time, it just seemed like a certification fiddle to me. Happy days with the ultra safe and delightfully handling little Enstrom. Safe flying to all from Dennis Kenyon. (Still pulsing!)