“The trainer aircraft is operational with air forces such as Venezuela and Pakistan.” The Enstrom 280 family of helicopters encompasses a range of variants, including Enstrom 280F, 280 Shark, 280C Shark Enstrom 480, Enstrom TH 180 and Spitfire Mark I. The helicopter can be further fitted with a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and an auxiliary fuel tank with a capacity of approximately 50l. The maximum payload carrying capacity of the helicopter is 422kg, while the useful load capacity varies based on the mission requirements. The gross weight of the rotorcraft is 1,179kg (2,600lb), while its empty weight, including the standard equipment, is 757kg. The spacious cabin provides seating arrangement for a crew member and two passengers. The diameter of the main rotor is 9.76m, while that of the tail rotor is 1.42m. The helicopter measures 8.75m-long, 2.2m-wide and 2.7m-high. The unblocked tail rotor further delivers superior yaw control in the windiest conditions. The fully articulated rotor system with high inertia enhances the stability and safety of the helicopter. The conventional rotor design of the helicopter includes a two-bladed tail rotor and a three-bladed main rotor. It is built according to the stringent safety measures of law enforcement, government, and military agencies. The industry-proven design of the helicopter offers more reliability and protection against crashes.īased on the design of Enstrom F-28 helicopter, the 280FX is built using advanced aerodynamic techniques. The composite airframe of the Enstrom 280FX helicopter is integrated with a strong fuselage. Enstrom 280FX Shark trainer helicopter design and features The rotorcraft received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October 2008.
Two helicopters were delivered to Venezuelan Air Force in 2012. Pakistan Army Aviation Corps took delivery of four Enstrum 280FX helicopters in June 2018. The trainer aircraft is operational with air forces such as Venezuela and Pakistan. The Enstrom 280FX Shark trainer helicopter is manufactured by Enstrom Helicopter Corporation to address the military and commercial pilot training requirements across the globe.