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Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 530f

In category, the Airbus H125, Bell 505, and MD 500E are commonly positioned as light single-engine utility/tour helicopters, while the Airbus H130 is a light single optimized more for passenger comfort and sightseeing, and the MD 530F is a higher‑performance light single oriented toward hot‑and‑high and utility roles. For passenger capacity, the H130 typically carries the most, usually one pilot plus up to six passengers, whereas the H125 commonly seats one pilot plus up to five passengers depending on configuration. The Bell 505 is generally one pilot plus up to four passengers. The MD 500E and MD 530F are usually configured around one pilot plus up to four passengers, with mission kits often reducing seats. For range, the H125 and H130 are generally in the mid‑300 to ~400 nautical mile class (fuel and configuration dependent), the Bell 505 is typically in the low‑to‑mid‑300 nautical mile class, and the MD 500E and MD 530F are commonly in the ~200 to low‑300 nautical mile class, with auxiliary tanks extending this.

SpecAIRBUS H125AIRBUS H130Bell 505 JetRanger XMD Helicopters MD 500EMD Helicopters MD 530F
Summary
Cockpit23222
DOC / nm$ 4.61$ 5.00$ 3.53$ 2.95$ 3.59
Min Crew11111
Total Seats67544
Flight RulesVFRVFRVFRVFRVFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersAirbus HelicoptersBellMD HelicotpersMD Helicotpers
Aircraft NameH125H130505 JetRanger XMD 500EMD 530F
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)341333306258216
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.77$ 0.71$ 0.71$ 0.74$ 0.90
Max Cabin Seats5533
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)21892299150014831509
Standard Cabin Seats44322
Direct Operating Cost$ 627$ 640$ 441$ 398$ 480
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G500HGarmin G500HGarmin G1000HGyro / AnalogGarmin G500H
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)136128125135134
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$3,200,000$3,450,000$1,445,000$ 2,750,000$ 3,400,000
Cabin
Cockpit23222
Min Crew11111
Total Seats67544
Max Cabin Seats5533
Standard Cabin Seats44322
Engine
FADECYesYesDual-ChannelNoNo
ModelArriel 2DArriel 2DArrius 2R250-C20B250-C30
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)50005000400035002000
Horsepower847952505420650
No. of Engines11111
Fuel Capacity (gal)14314384.856464
Fuel Burn (gph)32.33535
Dimensions
Length (ft)42.541.542.4830.932.2
Overall Height (ft)1011.110.658.78.7
Rotor Diameter (ft)36.135.13726.427.5
Width (ft)6.51
Cabin Width (ft)4.66
Cabin Height (ft)2.75
Cabin Length (ft)7.17
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)137
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)18