AIR.ONE

Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 412epi vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer

The Airbus H125, Bell 407GXi, Leonardo AW119Kx, Bell 505, and MD 500E are broadly single‑engine light helicopters. They typically seat about 4–6 passengers (plus pilot), emphasize utility and cost efficiency, and offer moderate range; among them, the H125 and 407GXi are commonly chosen when hot‑and‑high performance and useful load matter, while the 505 and MD 500E skew lighter with generally shorter legs. The Airbus H135, Leonardo AW109 GrandNew, and MD 902 Explorer are light twin‑engine types. They usually carry around 5–7 passengers with improved redundancy and smoother IFR/EMS suitability, and their ranges are generally comparable to, or slightly better than, the single‑engine lights depending on tanks and mission fit. The Bell 412EPi, Leonardo AW169, and Leonardo SH09 sit in the intermediate twin category. They are designed for higher payload and cabin volume, commonly around 8–12 passengers, and tend to provide longer practical range and better all‑weather, multi‑role capability than the light class, making them typical choices for offshore support, SAR, and high‑utilization transport.

SpecAIRBUS H125AIRBUS H135Bell 407GXiBell 412EPiBell 505 JetRanger XAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand NewAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119KxAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09MD Helicopters MD 500EMD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer
Summary
Cockpit22222222222
DOC / nm$ 4.61$ 6.33$ 4.43$ 12.09$ 3.53$ 7.31$ 6.76$ 11.84$4.48$ 2.95$ 7.54
Min Crew11111111111
Total Seats6961458812848
Flight RulesVFRIFRVFRIFRVFRVFRVFRIFRVFRVFRVFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersAirbus HelicoptersBellBellBellLeonardoLeonardoLeonardoLeonardoMD HelicotpersMD Helicotpers
Aircraft NameH125H135407GXi412EPi505 JetRanger XAW109 Grand NewAW119KxAW169SH09MD 500EMD 902 Exlplorer
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAIn-DevelopmentFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)341342337361306464515440430258317
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.77$ 0.79$ 0.74$ 0.86$ 0.71$ 0.91$ 0.84$ 0.99$0.56$ 0.74$ 0.94
Max Cabin Seats575136610636
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedVERIFIEDVERIFIEDVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)2189312423004829150014833125
Standard Cabin Seats4751336610626
Direct Operating Cost$ 627$ 861$ 589$ 1,487$ 441$ 1,140$ 885$ 1,658$627$ 398$ 988
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G500HHelionixGarmin G1000H NXIBell BasiX-ProGarmin G1000HEFISGarmin G1000HEFISEFISGyro / AnalogGarmin G500H
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)136136133123125156131140140135131
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$3,200,000$6,150,000$3,225,000$ 12,500,000$1,445,000$ 7,800,000 $3,850,000 $9,450,000 $3,500,000$ 2,750,000 $7,250,000
Max Passengers7
Cabin
Cockpit22222222222
Min Crew11111111111
Total Seats6961458812848
Max Cabin Seats57513661036
Standard Cabin Seats4751336610626
ConfigurationGreen Interior
Engine
FADECYesYesYesYesDual-ChannelYesYesYesYesNoNo
ModelArriel 2DArrius 2B2+M250-C47E/4PT6T-9Arrius 2RPW207CPT6B-37APW210AHTS 900250-C20BPW207E
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)50004000350040004000400045004000550035004000
Horsepower847660862137050573591710001020420710
No. of Engines12121212112
Fuel Capacity (gal)143127.8330.584.8515216064159
Fuel Burn (gph)4611332.33565
Dimensions
Length (ft)42.533.541.452.142.4842.542.548.130.940.6
Overall Height (ft)1012.610.211.510.6511.511.914.88.712
Rotor Diameter (ft)36.13435463735.535.526.433.9
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)173125220137222.5
Width (ft)25.4336.51
Cabin Width (ft)54.66
Cabin Height (ft)3.92.75
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)16281849.5
Cabin Length (ft)7.17