Strana 17
ENSTROM
company (0515, 0516 and the black coded 0522
with an analog instrument panel). However,
the last-named one, due to its equipment, only
flew in the CLV for a short time. After more
than 14,000 flight hours and almost 62,000
landings, I think it is possible to objectively
evaluate the helicopter, even in comparison
with the previously and widely used Mi-2s.
Petr Hladík, one of the most experienced
pilot-instructors at CLV with more than
4,000 hours of flight time logged on the Mi-2,
comments: ‘The Enstrom 480 is much friendlier
to young, novice pilots, who are able to learn
the basics of piloting techniques faster on it.
It is equipped with a modern glass cockpit
based on the Garmin G1000H with an NVG mode,
allowing training with night vision goggles. Due
to the skid landing gear, the same direction of
rotation of the main rotor, and the digital cockpit,
subsequent retraining to the introduced
helicopters of the H-1 system is much smoother.
Modern avionics allow for instrument training,
including RNP procedures and approaches,
and the equipment with a suspension hook
allows for training flights utilizing that aspect
of flying. True, we only carry a ninety-kilogram
‘bag’ under us, but with such a small baby, the
need for power changes when lifting it is very
similar to large helicopters. The Enstrom is
smaller and lighter, which amounts to only
a third of the fuel consumption compared to
the Mi-2 helicopter, while its cockpit is larger,
more comfortable and its abundant glazing
provides excellent visibility in all directions.
It is able to fly in stronger winds than the
Dash Two. Its disadvantage is the single-
engine concept, which is common for this
category of helicopters in terms of price and
operating costs, and the fact that it lacks IFR
certification precisely because of this concept
and the absence of an autopilot.
The second posting by Vit Kucera is also
a bit about a comparison with the Mi-2:
‘The type on which I experienced my rough
beginnings in helicopter flying was the Mi-2.
The helicopter was not very pretty to me, for
example compared to the Mi-24 that I flew
later, and even then it suffered from not very
powerful engines, compared to the weight of
the helicopter. But as a preparation for other
Mil types, the ‘Dash Two’ was more than good.
When I met it again at the CLV after years as an
instructor, I was not at first enthusiastic at all,
because it was no prettier than before and still
not very powerful... Moreover, outside visibility
was not great, so, for example, flying at ground
level was very uncomfortable. But thanks to
the large volume of flight hours during training
with Iraqi pilots, I eventually took it to heart.
Not that I shed a tear when the Mi-2 was taken
out of service, that's for sure, but I experienced
‘something’ with that type.
Foto: Petr Kolmann
INFO Eduard
17
March 2026