(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.