Among several new helicopter introductions at Heli-Expo in Anaheim, California, this week was a new trainer from Enstrom Helicopter Corp. The bright orange helicopter the Menominee, Michigan-based company unveiled at its booth at the Anaheim Convention Center’s show floor is a mockup of the two-seat TH180, a scaled down version of the three-seat 280FX, which was certified in the mid-1980s.
Being designed with the training market in mind, Enstrom says the TH180 is built to be rugged, with shock absorbing skid landing gear, and economical while providing good head- and legroom for the instructor and student. The main rotor is powered by a Lycoming HIO-390 engine, burning less than 12 gallons per hour and the hourly operating cost is expected to be around $175, according to Enstrom’s estimates.
