Wed, Apr 19, 2023
Pair of 480B Helicopters Bound for ZAF Service in Utility, Training Configuration
Enstrom Helicopters announced a funky client for their most recent sale, with 2 of their turbine 480B aircraft bound to the Zambian Air Force.
The company announced the deal in April, but the deal was made back in February to provide both the aircraft and training for ZAF personnel & pilots. The 480Bs will be based out of Zambia, Lusaka, as training and utility aircraft.
As workhorses-to-be, the Enstrom helos will be outfitted with simple, reliable glass panel avionics and a bevy of hard points and cargo hooks. One interesting decision was to outfit one of the 480B’s with a hybrid glass and analogue panel, ostensibly to provide ZAF pilots in training with a flight deck similar to the gauge-equipped Mi-17s used as the mainstay of the fleet.
“We are very excited to be supporting the ZAF missions,” said Enstrom VP of sales Dennis Martin. “The 480B will be a lot more efficient than some of the other light helicopters they were using, but with its performance and quick reconfiguration options, the 480B will provide the capability and flexibility they need.”
Enstrom credits Safomar for their aid in coordinating the deal. The South African company runs a large regional MRO and flight school that serves the entire sub-Saharan region, granting them the needed connections to pair off local operators with affordable American helo manufacturing like Enstrom's.
According to Shai Shalem, Managing Director of Safomar, “We are excited to have Enstrom back and under new management with exciting and excellent helicopter upgrades. It is an honor to have sold two of the first helicopters off the line under the new ownership. These 480B’s are just the right fit for military and Law Enforcement missions.”
More News
Very High Frequency The frequency band between 30 and 300 MHz. Portions of this band, 108 to 118 MHz, are used for certain NAVAIDs; 118 to 136 MHz are used for civil air/ground voi>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Suppliers Association Established February 25, 1993, the Aviation Suppliers Association (ASA), based in Washington, D.C., is a not-for-profit association, repre>[...]
Have A Story That NEEDS To Be Featured On Aero-News? Here’s How To Submit A Story To Our Team Some of the greatest new stories ANN has ever covered have been submitted by our>[...]
From 2021 (YouTube Version): Colorado Campus Offers aVariety Of Aerospace Entertainment And Education Wings over the Rockies Exploration of Flight is the second location for the Wi>[...]
Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]