Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 520n
Airbus Helicopters’ H125 and H130 are single‑engine light helicopters, while the H135 is a twin‑engine light helicopter; the MD 500E and MD 520N are also single‑engine light helicopters. In passenger capacity, the H130 typically carries the most in this group (commonly 1 pilot plus up to 6 passengers), the H125 is usually configured around 1 pilot plus 5 passengers, and the H135 commonly seats about 1–2 pilots plus 5–6 passengers depending on interior and mission fit. The MD 500E and MD 520N are generally smaller-cabin aircraft, often configured around 1–2 pilots plus 3–4 passengers. On range, the H125 and H130 generally offer solid cross‑country capability for single‑engine types, with typical ranges on the order of roughly 330–400+ nautical miles depending on fuel options and payload. The H135’s range is commonly in a similar broad band (often roughly 300–350+ nautical miles) while providing twin‑engine redundancy. The MD 500E and MD 520N typically have shorter ranges (often around roughly 250–330 nautical miles), varying with tanks, powerplant, and mission equipment.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H130 | AIRBUS H135 | MD Helicopters MD 500E | MD Helicopters MD 520N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 5.00 | $ 6.33 | $ 2.95 | $ 3.38 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H130 | H135 | MD 500E | MD 520N |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 333 | 342 | 258 | 210 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.85 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 2299 | 3124 | 1483 | 1764 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 640 | $ 861 | $ 398 | $ 416 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 128 | 136 | 135 | 123 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $3,450,000 | $6,150,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $ 2,900,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Configuration | — | — | Green Interior | — | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | 250-C20B | 250-C20R |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 5000 | 4000 | 3500 | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 952 | 660 | 420 | 450 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 143 | — | 64 | 64 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 35 | 35 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 41.5 | 33.5 | 30.9 | 31.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 35.1 | 34 | 26.4 | 27.4 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 173 | — | — |