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#12
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Hey Bill try this
http://www.heliexpo.com/2004registrations.htm When is HAI? I know it's in FEB sometime. Bill |
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yes i will be calling by steve
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I'd have to echo much of the experience of Ga Chopper. I own an Enstrom
F28A, a 1974 piston model. I too, was looking for a relatively affordable helicopter for personal use. I was very familiar w/ Robinsons, but I'm very close to the maximum weight permitted per seat. Robbies have no baggage space, save that under the seats. And they are terribly unforgiving should there be a power failure. There is an economic disadvantage too, as when they time out, the entire aircraft is timed out, and must be overhauled. The initial price of Robbies with any reasonable time left on them was significantly more than the price of am A-model Enstrom with comparable time. By contrast, the Enstrom hauls a better load, it's roomier for two, and possible to fly w/ three, it has a baggage compartment, and it's much more ruggedly constructed. However, it's greatest safety feature is it's autorotation. It is much more forgiving than a Robinson, something to carefully consider. My experience with maintenance has been generally good. I do much of my own work (lube jobs being permitted as owner performed maintenance) and work with an IA to do the annuals. Other than a TR gearbox, the maintenance has been stuff that might also be necessary on an airplane of the same vintage. I did have a bad experience with a "factory approved" maintenance shop in Lapeer, MI. They were less then honest in their dealings with me, so I won't make the mistake of going back there. (I understand that they treat airplane customers the same way.) The factory has been great, though. I've had excellent support from them at all times. For high altitude work (anything above 1000 MSL is high altitude for me) the turbo-charged Enstroms will deliver much better performance than my normally aspirated one. Of course, they are newer, and pricier, but good ones are available if you shop carefully. Go fly an Enstrom before you buy anything else. It's important that you get good maintenance, too. Seek out a mechanic familiar with them, or find one willing to go take the factory training. I could have bought a lot of other helicopters, and I tried a lot before buying. I'm delighted with my Enstrom, and put a couple hundred hours on it each year. Good luck, and happy safe flying. RTS "Ga.Chopper" wrote in message om... (Badwater Bill) wrote in message . .. On 27 Jan 2004 16:40:04 GMT, (JIM105) wrote: I want a personal helicopter for me mostly. My wife will go about 25% opf the time. I'd like to land it at 10,000 feet msl if it will do it, no big loads, just some groceries. How much do they cost and what is the TBO? What should I look for? I'm serious. I was just about to buy a Robbie, but-damn, the envelope is so tight on that ship. However, the thing I don't like about the Enstrom is the way they buzz that engine, the probability of an engine failure, etc. I like the idea of a turbo, but how does it cool? Thank you for anything you can tell me or for directing me to some people who know You will never operate an Enstrom for the same price as a Robbi. On the other hand, the Enstrom is much more versatile. the F28F can carry three in a pinch (you will be good friends by the end of the flight though). The ride quality is good and the autorotations are the best of any piston except the Bell 47. I haven't flown one in probably 15 years, but as far as 10,000 feet, I'd look hard at the performance numbers of any piston helicopter. The lamiflex bearings were a hassle, although I think Enstrom has a new system these days. Engine does tend to work hard and I don't remember seeing many go to TBO. All in all I really enjoyed flying them. Of course the key to it is to find a mechanic that knows Enstroms in your area. It can make or break your experience. Jim That's interesting Jim. Thanks for the input. I know they suck the guts out of that piston engine, but I hear the flying characteristics are superb. What I like about the R-22 is the lack of maintenace and the engine is so derated it probably won't ever fail. But, if it does, then you better be spring loaded to get that collective bottomed in 1 second or you are toast. All of this is a toss up. In the Enstrom buzzing that O-360 and demanding 220 hp out of an engine designed for 160 hp worries me, especially in a helo. What do you know about the turbine ship? The 480 is it? Anybody got any experience with that baby? BWB I have an Enstrom F-28"C-2", same cabin as the "F" model but has the 205 HP versus the 225 HP. I am a private owner/operator and do all my own maintenance as as A&P mechanic and have been to the factory maintainence course. There are a couple of myths about Enstrom piston models I would like to address. The HIO-360 series engines used in the Enstroms obviously are not derated like the Robbies, but they also do not have the "guts sucked out" of them. You actually have more reserve power/manifold pressure avaialble than the R-22, which is why the useful load is about 1000 lbs. I rarely fly with 3 people onboard which is why I have a good margin of reserve power. These engines will typically make it to the 1500 TBO and some go beyond that. The 205 HP may require a top overhaul on some or all of the cylinders at 1000 to 1200 hours. But the 225 HP engine used on the "F" or "FX" models will usually make it to TBO without any problems or top overhaul. The lower TBO times reflect that they are not derated like the Robbies. One problem that can occur on the derated Robbie engine is a stuck valve due to carbon build up and oil coaking. One of my friends operates a Robbie Mantainece shop and he has seen this a few times. In one case, the stuck closed valve worn down the associated cam lobe, would'nt develope power and caused a costly premature overhaul. Routine manitainence is better on the Robbie but not by a large amount, the biggest difference is Enstrom reccomends a 15 minute grease job every 25 hours. Enstrom maintenace is about the same as a Hughes/Schweizer 269. Enstroms have gotten a bad rap for maintaince because of untrained mechanics working on them. Several police departments in California operate Enstroms on a daily schedule without problems. Pomona Police department has put over 80,000 accident free hours on their fleet, according to the Enstrom website. In my opinion, if you get a good pre-buy done by an Enstrom service center or a factory trained mechanic, and have them do the 100 hour/annaul inspections; you will have a reliable and safe helciopter. Good luck. |
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