US Helicopter Registry

EnstromF-28and280

270 Enstrom F-28 and 280 helicopters hold a valid FAA registration, 2 percent of the US fleet and the number 17 type by count. It is a piston single helicopter, built by Enstrom. 1 of them fly on a Part 135 certificate.

270
Registered in the US
1
On a Part 135 certificate
1981
Median year built
3
Seats (FAA reference)

Variants the FAA lists

The FAA lists it under 12 model strings, folded together here. The strings are the manufacturer's own designations as typed on the registration, so a suffix marks a sub-model, an engine option, or sometimes only a different clerk.

Model as registeredRegistered
F-28F61
280FX58
280C48
F-28C46
F-28A38
280F6
2805
F2803
F28F2
280FXT1
280L1
F-281

Where the Enstrom F-28 and 280 is registered

By the registrant's state. A trust or leasing company can put a whole fleet at one address, so a state's count is about paperwork as much as flying.

When they were built

  • 1960s 52%
  • 1970s 7327%
  • 1980s 4818%
  • 1990s 228%
  • 2000s 187%
  • 2010s 104%
  • 2020s 21%

The register runs from 1966 to 2026, with 1978 the busiest year at 16 airframes. 92 records carry no year of manufacture.

Who registers them

  • Individual 11743%
  • LLC 8732%
  • Corporation 4918%
  • Co-owned 156%
  • Non-citizen corporation 21%

The organisations with the most Enstrom F-28 and 280 helicopters registered. Private individuals are counted above but never named.

RegistrantHelicopters
LRH EQUIPMENT LLC15
ENSTROM HELICOPTER CORP7
MEDIC CHOPPERS LLC5
COWBOY UP AVIATION LLC3
ADF HELICOPTERS INC2
BEACON AVIATION FLIGHT SERVICES LLC2
BENSON AVIATION LLC2
D & M AVIATION INC2

Engine and certification

4 are recorded as turbine powered and 266 as piston. The engines the FAA lists most often: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER (91), LYCOMING HI0-360 SER (52), LYCOMING HIO-360-F1AD (31), LYCOMING I0360 SER (27), LYCOMING HIO-360-E1AD (5).

  • Standard 23286%
  • Restricted 93%
  • Experimental 62%
  • Multiple 52%

Standard is the airworthiness class a passenger-carrying aircraft holds. Restricted covers agricultural, external-load and other special-purpose work, and experimental covers research, exhibition and amateur-built aircraft; neither carries paying passengers.

Common questions

How many Enstrom F-28 and 280 helicopters are there in the United States?

270 hold a valid FAA registration in the file dated 14 September 2026, 2 percent of all registered helicopters, which ranks the Enstrom F-28 and 280 number 17 among model families. The FAA lists it under 12 model strings, folded together here.

Where are most Enstrom F-28 and 280 helicopters registered?

Oregon leads with 43, then Delaware with 20. The state is the registrant's address rather than where the aircraft flies.

Is the Enstrom F-28 and 280 used for charter?

1 of the 270 registered, 0 percent, sit on an FAA Part 135 certificate, the authority needed to fly passengers or cargo for hire. For a piston type that is mostly training and light utility work rather than passenger charter.

How old are the Enstrom F-28 and 280 helicopters on the register?

The median was built in 1981; the register runs from 1966 to 2026, with 1978 the busiest year at 16. 92 records carry no year.

Source: FAA Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated 14 September 2026; Part 135 workbook dated 9 August 2026. Look up any airframe by tail number on the registry hub.

Other model families

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