Enstrom 280C

3-occupant piston helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1975-1980 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Indicative 1978 market price€109k to €130k

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€156k

Five-year cash outlay€899k

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	3
Reported payload proxy	180 kg
Reported range	209 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	95 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Avgas 100LL
Fixed annual base	€30k
Direct cost per flight hour	€390

The ownership trade-off

The 280C combines 3-seat helicopter capability with about 209 NM reported range and about 95 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €141k per year ( €3515 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €156k per year ( €1953 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €172k per year ( €1432 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €195k per year ( €1084 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €74k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

95 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
209 nm reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
180 kg reported payload proxy and 3 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

The 280C combines 3-seat helicopter capability with about 209 NM reported range and about 95 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€30k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Solo or two-person flying where low complexity matters more than cabin capacity.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.