Zambia Air Force receives two Enstrom helicopters

Enstrom representatives finalized the sale of two 480B helicopters in February 2023 with the Zambia Ministry of Defence. South Africa’s Safomar Aviation, which operates its regional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, assisted in managing logistics, specifications, and helicopter configuration.

Enstrom CCO Dennis Martin said: “We are very excited to be partnering with the Zambian Air Force. Beyond just typical uses like flight training or utility operations, these versatile helicopters will be used for missions like anti-poaching and public safety. They are going to be productive assets for the Zambian people.”

As part of the contract, Enstrom – based in Menominee in the US state of Michigan – hosted Zambian mechanics in October 2023 for a week of maintenance training. Emphasizing its importance, Martin said: “We made it clear, they will always have our support, but given the distance between Menominee and Lusaka, we believed it essential for local Zambians to understand all the subtle nuances of an Enstrom’s inner workings without having to rely on experts seven time zones away.”

One helicopter will feature a full glass panel, the other an analog hybrid, allowing student pilots to gain experience with both.

Enstrom also recently announced the sale of four 280FX helicopters to the Peruvian military.