Enstrom has received in quick succession orders from the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force and the Royal Thai Army for a total of 46 Enstrom 480Bs for use as pilot trainers.
Thailand announced an order for 16 of the five-seat turbine 480Bs on March 4, while a day later Japan placed an order for 30.
The first 480B for Thailand will be delivered by the end of the year and be based at the army aviation centre in Lopburi province, central Thailand, flying alongside Bell TH-67s (JetRangers) and Schweizer 300s. Japan will also see initial deliveries by year’s end, with the final delivery in 2014.
