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Bell 47G

F-GELN HP824
Westland-Bell 47G-3 Sioux
XT246
AAC XT245 AAC XT246
Enstrom F28A-D
D-EDWQ  
D-EDWQ  
Enstron F-28F Falcon
G-ERDW  
G-ERDW  
Enstrom 280 Shark
D-HAAR PH-JVM
Enstrom 480B Turbine
N480MS PH-PHA
D-HAAR Enstrom 280C Shark c/n 1189 - DL Helikoper - Flugplatz Leer-Papenburg in Germany - 23 July 2014 D-HAFY at EDWF

The R.J. Enstrom Corporation, named after its initiator Rudy Enstrom, was officially organised in 1959 in Menominee, Michigan. Their first more thoroughly engineered helicopter design was the F-28. The two-seat prototype of the F-28 was flown first on 12 November 1960, followed by the first of two three-seat production prototypes on 26 May 1962. Initial FAA certification was achieved for the F-28 model on 15 April 1965. The Enstrom F-28 was built in limited quantities. A more powerful version, the F-28A, was certified on 28 May 1968. This helicopter entered full rate production, and over 300 helicopters of this model were manufactured. After ownership of the company changed in January 1971, the company name was changed into Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. A collaboration between a Boston industrial design firm and the Enstrom engineering team yielded a new aerodynamically styled airframe, the 280 Shark. This new model was certified on 13 September 1974 and immediately put into production. Over the years a number of models were developed and produced based on the body style of the 280. The single-engine Enstrom 280C was approved on 8 December 1975. This version of the three-seat light utility helicopter has an upgraded engine, fitted with a turbocharger.

On 4 September 1980, the 1980-built Enstrom 280C Shark s/n 1189 was registered SE-HKX in Sweden with Patria Helikopters AB, Stockholm-Arlanda. On 10 May 1983, registration SE-HKX was cancelled as exported to Germany. In Germany the Enstrom 280C was registered D-HGBX. In 1985, registration D-HAAH was reserved for this Enstrom, but not taken up. In July 1987, registration D-HGBX was cancelled and the Enstrom was registered D-HAAR with Gerhard Niemann Maschinenfabrik, Melle, Germany. In 2010, Airbus Helicopters EC120 B D-HKDV replaced Enstrom 280C D-HAAR in service with Wilhelm Niemann GmbH, Melle. Early 2011, the Enstrom 280C D-HAAR entered service with DL Helicopter, Hamburg/Fuhlsbüttel. On 23 July 2014, the Enstrom 280C Shark D-HAAR was seen practicing hoover at Flugplatz Leer-Papenburg. On 12 June 2018, Enstrom 280C Shark D-HAAR was severely damaged during an emergency landing in a meadow near Berne in Lower Saxony, Germany. The helicopter had taken off from Ganderkesee for a check-flight: at a height of 600 m the engine suddenly stopped through an unknown cause, after which the emergency landing was carried out. After the helicopter was put right on the skids in the pasture it tipped through the hard landing and the tailboom broke off. Both passengers remained unharmed. On 5 September 2018, registration D-HAAR was cancelled as damaged beyond repair.

page last updated: 12-09-2018
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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