Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New
Across category, the Airbus H125 is a light single‑engine helicopter optimized for utility work and hot‑and‑high performance, while the H130 is also a light single‑engine model but tuned more for quiet, comfortable passenger and tourism missions. The Airbus H135, Bell 429 GlobalRanger, and Leonardo AW109 Grand New are light twin‑engine helicopters, generally favored for IFR capability, redundancy, and higher-speed corporate, EMS, and police roles. On range, the H125 and H130 typically offer mid-range legs suitable for regional point‑to‑point flying, with the H130 often marketed with slightly stronger passenger‑mission endurance. The H135 and Bell 429 commonly deliver comparable or somewhat greater practical mission range than the singles, depending on configuration, while the AW109 Grand New is often regarded as among the faster twins in this set and can provide competitive range for executive transport. For passenger capacity, the H125 is commonly used with around five passengers plus pilot in typical layouts, the H130 is frequently configured for up to six or seven passengers plus pilot, and the H135 often seats about six to seven passengers plus pilot(s). The Bell 429 is commonly configured for about six to seven passengers plus pilot(s), and the AW109 Grand New typically seats about six to seven passengers plus pilot(s), with layouts varying by mission.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H130 | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 5.00 | $ 6.33 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.31 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H130 | H135 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 333 | 342 | 365 | 464 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.91 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 2299 | 3124 | 2535 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 640 | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 128 | 136 | 148 | 156 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $3,450,000 | $6,150,000 | $7,500,000 | $ 7,800,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Configuration | — | — | Green Interior | — | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 952 | 660 | 1100 | 735 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 143 | — | 216.9 | 152 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 76 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 41.5 | 33.5 | 43 | 42.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 13.25 | 11.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 35.1 | 34 | 36 | 35.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 173 | 130 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | — | 26.37 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | — | 5 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | 6.58 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 74 | — |