Enstrom Helicopter 280fx Shark vs Enstrom Helicopter F 28f vs Robinson Helicopters R22 Beta Ii vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Cadet

All four are light civil helicopters, but they split into two size classes. The Enstrom 280FX Shark and Enstrom F-28F are piston-powered, three-seat light helicopters typically used for training, patrol, and utility work; their practical passenger capacity is usually the pilot plus up to two passengers, depending on mission and weight. Between the two Enstroms, the 280FX is generally positioned as the more modern, higher-performance variant, while the F-28F is a closely related, proven platform; in typical configurations they offer broadly similar light-helicopter range, with the 280FX often cited as having a slight edge depending on fuel and operating profile. The Robinson R22 Beta II is a smaller, two-seat piston helicopter aimed squarely at primary flight training and low-cost personal flying; it carries the least people and generally has the shortest range of this group. The Robinson R44 Cadet is a four-seat airframe optimized for training (often operated with two or three occupants for weight-and-balance flexibility), offering greater passenger capacity and typically longer range than the R22, and often comparable to or better than the Enstroms depending on configuration and reserves.