Enstrom Celebrates 30 Years at Oshkosh
Under new ownership for more than a year, Enstrom Helicopter is growing again and showing off its helicopters at EAA AirVenture.

Enstrom Helicopter continues a 30-year tradition by showcasing its helicopters at the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, following its purchase out of Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy in May 2022 by Surack Enterprises. Enstrom brought three rotorcraft to the event, including the new 480B and 280FX models, and company owner Chuck Surack will be in attendance.

Although AirVenture primarily showcases fixed-winged aircraft, rotorcraft fans can be found all over the show grounds, whether admiring kitbuilt helicopters, gyrocopters, or factory-new machines. Enstrom has long enjoyed the benefits of participating in the show. “There’s significant overlap in the Venn diagram of Enstrom owners and airplane enthusiasts,” said Enstrom senior technical fellow Bayard Dupont. “Many of our customers also fly airplanes and many of them plan to attend EAA [AirVenture] in Oshkosh.”

At the show, Enstrom is highlighting the interiors and exteriors of its helicopters, including the upgraded Garmin avionics that were unveiled at Heli-Expo in Atlanta and new paint designs. 

“Some visitors who are only experienced in fixed-wing aircraft might feel anxious about making the jump to rotorcraft,” said Dennis Martin, Enstrom president of sales and marketing, “and there are a lot of misconceptions about the process. We get to tell everyone, ‘Hey! Helicopters are cool, and you can learn to fly one!’