Enstrom F-28
The Enstrom Model F-28 was the company’s first practical helicopter and served as the basis for the development of a family of helicopters by the company. It was derived from a series of home-built helicopters developed by the company’s founder and chief designer, Rudolph Enstrom. Known initially as the F-27, a two-bladed prototype of the F-28 first flew in December 1960 and featured a main rotor that consisted of a teetering-rotor assembly with an entirely adjustable mechanical control system to reduce weight. A tubular weld structure is used to construct the F-28's airframe and landing gear system. The F-28 featured a 180-shp (134-kW) Avco Lycoming four-cylinder O-360-A1A piston engine. Beginning in 1962, Enstrom began working on an experimental three-bladed pre-production prototype of the F-28, which eventually served as the production version. The first of the three-bladed prototypes completed its maiden flight on May 27, 1962, and the second was built in May 1963. It was certified in April 1965.
Photos by Enstrom Helicopter Corp.
Description by Jacques Virasak and Dan Gettinger
Resources:
- Enstrom F-28, Vertipedia, Vertical Flight Society
- Enstrom F-27, Vertipedia, Vertical Flight Society
- Enstrom History, Enstrom Helicopter Corp. website
- Piston F-28F & 280FX, Enstrom Helicopter Corp. website
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