Three-seat turbocharged piston helicopter · Private helicopters · production 1985–present · See its reach on the 3D globe
An Enstrom 280FX Shark costs approximately $447k (€414k) to $535k (€495k) to buy at 2010 market values, and about $87k (€80k) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $1,085 (€1,005) per flight hour all-in. It seats 3, cruises at 90 kt (104 mph) and has a published range of 230 nm (426 km). Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.
The 280FX is the thinking pilot's piston helicopter: a fully articulated three-blade rotor rather than a teetering head, so it does not carry the low-G mast bumping risk that dominates training in its rivals, on a turbocharged Lycoming that holds power at altitude. Pilots who have flown both usually rate its stability and its safety margins highly. The company behind it has had a hard decade. Enstrom filed Chapter 7 in January 2022 and stopped parts, overhauls and technical support outright; the assets were bought later that year by Surack Enterprises and production restarted in 2023, but the fleet is small and that interruption is recent. Buy it for the rotor system, with parts availability verified in the present tense.
First-party reference values for this model. They are shown separately from PlaneFit planning estimates and do not enter Finder or cross-model rankings until each field is normalised across the catalogue.
| Maximum takeoff weight | 1,179 kg |
|---|---|
| Useful load | 421 kg |
| Usable fuel | 151 L |
| Service ceiling | 9,000 ft |
| Maximum climb rate | 1,150 ft/min |
| Engine | Turbocharged Lycoming HIO-360, 225 shp |
Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.
| Seats | 3 |
| Realistic payload with mission fuel | 602 lb (273 kg) |
| Published planning range | 230 nm (426 km) |
| Practical planning radius (4 people) | 154 nm (285 km) |
| Cruise speed | 90 kt (104 mph) |
| Runway need | Vertical |
| Landing gear | Skids |
| Pressurised | No |
| Fuel | Avgas 100LL |
| Fixed annual base | $38k (€35k) |
| Direct cost per flight hour | $410 (€380) |
Stable, durable and hot-day capable for a piston helicopter, but three seats and specialist support limit utility.
Indicative cash costs at 2010 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.
| Annual use | Annual cash cost | Effective cost / h | Five-year cash outlay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 h / year | $70k (€65k) | $1,760 (€1,630) | $838k (€776k) |
| 80 h / year | $87k (€80k) | $1,085 (€1,005) | $920k (€852k) |
| 120 h / year | $103k (€96k) | $860 (€797) | $1m (€928k) |
| 180 h / year | $128k (€118k) | $710 (€658) | $1.13m (€1.04m) |
Every figure above is built from a $38k (€35k) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $410 (€380) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.
Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $84k (€78k) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.
Enstrom 280FX Shark cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.
On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.
US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.
An indicative 2010 market price for an Enstrom 280FX Shark is $447k (€414k) to $535k (€495k). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.
Flying 80 hours a year, an Enstrom 280FX Shark works out at roughly $87k (€80k) annually, which is about $1,085 (€1,005) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $410 (€380).
Published range is 230 nm (426 km). With 3 people aboard and realistic reserves, plan on a practical radius of about 166 nm rather than the brochure figure.
Beyond a pilot certificate, an Enstrom 280FX Shark requires rotorcraft-helicopter rating. A helicopter category and class rating on your pilot certificate. Fixed-wing time does not transfer, and most owners reach this type through a full course rather than an add-on. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.
Enstrom 280FX Shark is a helicopter and needs no runway, but landing permissions and component-life maintenance dominate its real-world utility.