SUN ‘n FUN Showcases Enstrom Helicopter Corporation’s Bright Future
Enstrom Helicopter shined at this year’s SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. The annual aircraft showcase brought hundreds of vendors and hundreds of thousands of visitors to what has become known as the “spring break for pilots.”
Throughout the first week of April, Enstrom representatives showed off the brand-new 480B Elite and worked to make meaningful connections with customers.
Senior Vice President of Product, Sales, and Customer Excellence Charles Wade said, “SUN ‘n FUN is a more casual general aviation show focused on the owner operator, which allowed us many opportunities to meet one-on-one with contacts. We have a great entry-level helicopter in the 280FX. It’s a favorite for flight training programs and the weekend recreational flyer. These were the demographics we targeted at SUN ‘n FUN, while also focusing on identifying potential service center partnerships.”
Senior Technical Fellow Bayard DuPont and Vice President of Product Support and Quality Assurance Doug Smith also made the trip to Lakeland, representing Enstrom and answering any mechanical questions visitors might have had.
Senior Vice President of Regulator Affairs and Global Relations Todd Tetzlaff said, “Traffic was strong at our booth throughout the week. We developed existing relationships with Enstrom customers and initiated some new leads.”
Another priority for the trip was to engage the next generation of helicopter pilots.
“Many helicopter pilots begin their aviation career learning fixed wing,” said Wade. “Enstrom showed these young aviation enthusiasts at SUN ‘n FUN just how cool piloting a helicopter can be.”
Enstrom will return to SUN ‘n FUN April 14-19, 2026.
About Enstrom Helicopter
From Rudy Enstrom’s early designs in 1943 to initial testing in a Michigan Quarry in 1957 to aircraft operating on six continents, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has maintained a reputation for safety, value and performance. Based in Menominee, Michigan and proudly made in the United States, Enstrom has a rich history for design innovation. The goal is to provide helicopters to the customer’s exact specification and deliver support and maintenance worldwide.