Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Enstrom Helicopter has met all the FAA and EASA requirements to once again sell new turbine 480B helicopters manufactured at its Menominee, Michigan production site. The model’s crash-resistant fuel system (CRFS) was approved late last year, and now 480B production has resumed to fill new orders. Aircraft 5261 is the first new 480B signed off for full airworthiness and is available for sale, according to the company.
Although this and a subsequent 480B are equipped with a legacy six-pack instrument cluster and a Garmin GTN 650 navcom, upcoming versions will feature a Garmin G500H display, &nbsp;GTN 650, ADS-B Out/In, and a Howell engine indication system. A larger GTN 750 will be an option.
Meanwhile, the company’s piston-powered 280FX’s CRFS is expected to be certified in the next couple of months, according to Enstrom senior v-p of product, sales, and customer excellence Charles Wade. “Our engineering team is working very closely with the FAA to push this project across the finish line. We are expecting to perform FAA flight tests in May, which would mean we could be ready to deliver factory-new 280FXs as early as July.” Enstrom also plans to offer the G500H in the 280FX but hasn’t set a timeline yet.
Work on the 480B’s Moog Genesys autopilot is done, he added, and once the G500H upgrade is approved, the autopilot will be approved shortly thereafter. Enstrom has six 480Bs in inventory and expects to build four more by the end of the year, along with four to six 280FXs.
“We’ve done a lot of good work here lately on getting the supply chain beefed up,” Wade said. “There are a number of key components we have aligned on secondary sources to help some of the lead times. We’re sitting in really good shape, and the pieces are coming together nicely.”

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Enstrom has six 480Bs in inventory and expects to build four more by the end of the year, along with four to six 280FXs.

Enstrom’s Newest Turbine 480B Approved and Ready

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In this article

Enstrom F-28/280 Series

Enstrom 480/480B

Enstrom Helicopter

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