Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 412epi vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Robinson Helicopters R66 vs Sikorsky S 76d
By category, H125, Bell 407GXi, Bell 505, AW119Kx, MD 500E, and Robinson R66 are single‑engine light utility helicopters; they typically offer short‑to‑medium range missions and usually carry about 4–6 passengers (plus pilot), with the H125/AW119Kx/407GXi commonly at the upper end and MD 500E/505/R66 often slightly lower. H135, Bell 429WLG, AW109 Grand New, MD 902 Explorer, and Sikorsky S‑76D are light twins aimed at EMS, corporate, and public service work; they generally provide medium range and typically accommodate about 6–8 passengers, with some high‑density layouts pushing higher. Bell 412EPi and Leonardo AW139 are medium twins with longer range and larger cabins, commonly seating around 10–13 passengers. Leonardo AW169 bridges light and medium twins, usually offering medium‑to‑long range and roughly 8–10 passengers. Leonardo AW189 and Bell 525 Relentless are super‑medium/large‑cabin twins built for longer range and offshore/transport roles, typically around 16–19 passengers. Leonardo SH09 is an in‑development light single intended to sit near the light‑utility class with similar capacity and range expectations.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 412EPi | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | Bell 505 JetRanger X | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 500E | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer | ROBINSON R66 | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 6.33 | $ 4.43 | $ 12.09 | $ 6.05 | $ 3.53 | — | $ 7.31 | $ 6.76 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 | $ 15.57 | $4.48 | $ 2.95 | $ 7.54 | $ 3.49 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Bell | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H135 | 407GXi | 412EPi | 429WLG GlobalRanger | 505 JetRanger X | 525 Relentless | AW109 Grand New | AW119Kx | AW139 | AW169 | AW189 | SH09 | MD 500E | MD 902 Exlplorer | R66 | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 342 | 337 | 361 | 381 | 306 | 580 | 464 | 515 | 573 | 440 | 651 | 430 | 258 | 317 | 350 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.86 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.71 | — | $ 0.91 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 | $0.56 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.94 | $ 0.70 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 6 | — | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 6 | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 3124 | 2300 | 4829 | 2528 | 1500 | 6675 | — | — | 4701 | — | — | — | 1483 | 3125 | 1355 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 861 | $ 589 | $ 1,487 | $ 931 | $ 441 | — | $ 1,140 | $ 885 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 | $627 | $ 398 | $ 988 | $ 384 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Garmin G1000H NXI | Bell BasiX-Pro | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | Gyro / Analog | Garmin G500H | Gyro / Analog | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 136 | 133 | 123 | 154 | 125 | 160 | 156 | 131 | 165 | 140 | 155 | 140 | 135 | 131 | 110 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $6,150,000 | $3,225,000 | $ 12,500,000 | $7,700,000 | $1,445,000 | $15,000,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $3,850,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 | $2,413,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $7,250,000 | $ 920,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin | |||||||||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 9 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 6 | — | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Engine | |||||||||||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | M250-C47E/4 | PT6T-9 | PW207D1 | Arrius 2R | CT7-2F1 | PW207C | PT6B-37A | PT6C-67C | PW210A | CT7-2E1 | HTS 900 | 250-C20B | PW207E | RR300 | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5500 | 3500 | 4000 | 2000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 660 | 862 | 1370 | 1100 | 505 | 1800 | 735 | 917 | 1679 | 1000 | 1983 | 1020 | 420 | 710 | 300 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 127.8 | 330.5 | 216.9 | 84.85 | 641 | 152 | 160 | 414 | — | — | — | 64 | 159 | 73.6 | 296 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 46 | 113 | 76 | 32.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 65 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||||||||||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 33.5 | 41.4 | 52.1 | 43 | 42.48 | 61.58 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 54.7 | 48.1 | 57.8 | — | 30.9 | 40.6 | 38.3 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 12.6 | 10.2 | 11.5 | 12.39 | 10.65 | 18.18 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.6 | — | 8.7 | 12 | 11.4 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 34 | 35 | 46 | 36 | 37 | 54.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 54.7 | — | 48 | — | 26.4 | 33.9 | 33 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 125 | 220 | 130 | 137 | — | — | — | 282 | 222.5 | 395 | — | — | — | 50 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 25.4 | 33 | 26.37 | 6.51 | 25.77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | — | 5 | 4.66 | 7.58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 3.9 | — | 4 | 2.75 | 4.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 16 | 28 | 74 | 18 | 128 | — | — | 120 | 49.5 | 85 | — | — | — | 18 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | — | 6.58 | 7.17 | 15.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |