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Enstrom Announces First Flight of New 480B Helicopter

The flight marks the first since production resumed following Surack Enterprises' purchase of the company after its bankruptcy filing last year.

Enstrom has resumed production of its 480B turbine helicopter. [Credit: Shutterstock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • Enstrom Helicopter Corporation successfully completed the first flight of a new 480B turbine helicopter, marking its return to production eight months after resuming operations following bankruptcy.
  • Acquired by Chuck Surack in May 2022, Enstrom received its FAA production certificate in December, allowing it to resume building helicopters.
  • The newly manufactured 480B, built entirely from new components, completed its test flight without issues, representing a critical milestone in the company's plan to rebuild and reinvent its brand.
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Enstrom said it completed the first flight of a new 480B turbine helicopter since resuming operations eight months ago following bankruptcy proceedings.

The 480B is the 1317th helicopter Enstrom has built and the 255th of its 480 series, the company said, noting that the recently flown aircraft was not a “left-over airframe” from the pre-bankruptcy assembly line but was built with components newly made and assembled onsite.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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