![Enstrom’s 480B helicopter [Image: Enstrom]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/02dde4053cedfd3a5d41255f11293c34.jpg)
The American aerospace company Enstrom Helicopter Corporation recently dispatched its new 480B turbine helicopter to its official South African distributor, Safomar Aviation.
- Enstrom Helicopter Corporation delivered its new 480B turbine helicopter to its South African distributor, Safomar Aviation, during the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition.
- This marks Enstrom’s first commercial aircraft shipment since resuming operations after insolvency in January 2022 and subsequent acquisition by Surack Enterprises.
- Safomar has been a long-standing partner, and both companies aim to further expand the African market with Enstrom’s helicopters.
- Earlier in 2024, two 480B units were delivered to Zambia, and in 2021, two were provided to the Botswana police force with security-specific modifications.
The South African based distriutor which reaches the wider sub-Saharan market, took hold of Enstrom’s 480B helicopter during the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition, which took place from 16 to 20 September.
The aircraft, however, had been handed over to Safomar at Enstrom’s facility in Menominee, Michigan, back in July.
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This delivery marks the American company’s first commercial aircraft shipment since operations resumed, following its insolvency in January 2022 and subsequent acquisition by Surack Enterprises 5 months later.
“Safomar has been an exceptional representative of the Enstrom brand for many years,” said Chuck Wade, senior vice president of product, sales and customer excellence at Enstrom, as seen on DefenseWeb.
“This delivery reflects more than the transfer of an aircraft; it represents the continued strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to supporting customers throughout South Africa and the broader African market.
It also marks an important milestone for Enstrom as our first commercial aircraft delivery since resuming production, reinforcing our ability to serve both commercial and military customers around the world.”
“Enstrom and Safomar’s [relationship] is a living example of trust, collaboration, and focus on a superb product, superior support, and [dedication to] constant improvements,” said Shai Shalem, Founder and CEO of Safomar Group.
“We both have our customers’ safety and requirements as our top priorities. Our joint objective is to further expand the African market with solutions that Enstrom’s superb products provide.”
Two units of the 480B, which is primarily designed for pilot training, were delivered to another African country, Zambia, in 2024, personally by Enstrom.
Before that, in 2021, the company using Semafor delivered two 480Bs to the Botswana police force, specifically designed to fit the security unit’s requirements, which include navigation and communication equipment, cargo slinging, and light emergency medical systems.
The Enstrom 480B multi-role light turbine helicopter
The Enstrom 480B is a light turbine helicopter designed for a range of military and civilian missions, including pilot training, surveillance, transport, and utility operations.
Powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C20W engine producing 305 shp, the helicopter can reach a maximum cruise speed of about 209 km/h and has a range of up to 667 km.
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It can also remain airborne for roughly 4.6 hours, depending on operating conditions and payload.
The five-seat helicopter has a maximum take-off weight of 1,361 kg, making it relatively light compared with larger military rotorcraft.
Its size and multi-role design have made the 480B an option for countries looking for a helicopter that can handle several missions without the cost and infrastructure requirements of a larger platform.
