Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e
By category, the Airbus H125, Bell 407GXi, Leonardo AW119Kx, and MD Helicopters MD 500E are primarily single‑engine light utility helicopters, generally optimized for simplicity and lower operating cost, while the Airbus H135 and Leonardo AW109 Grand New are twin‑engine light helicopters typically positioned for higher redundancy missions such as EMS, corporate, and IFR-capable operations. The Bell 505 JetRanger X is also a light single but usually considered the entry-level modern trainer/utility segment. The Leonardo SH09 is a light single still emerging in the market, broadly comparable in intent to the 505/H120 class. In typical range terms, the H125 and 407GXi tend to lead the single-engine group with longer legs, the AW119Kx is similar, and the 505 and MD 500E are usually shorter-range. Among twins, the AW109 Grand New and H135 are broadly comparable, with the AW109 often cited as notably strong on cruise/range for its class. For passenger capacity, the H135 and AW109 commonly seat about 6–7 passengers (plus pilots, layout dependent), the H125 and 407GXi often carry about 5–6, while the 505, MD 500E, and SH09 are typically around 4–5.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 500E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 6.33 | $ 4.43 | $ 3.53 | $ 7.31 | $ 6.76 | $4.48 | $ 2.95 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H135 | 407GXi | 505 JetRanger X | AW109 Grand New | AW119Kx | SH09 | MD 500E |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 342 | 337 | 306 | 464 | 515 | 430 | 258 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.84 | $0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 5 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 3124 | 2300 | 1500 | — | — | — | 1483 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 861 | $ 589 | $ 441 | $ 1,140 | $ 885 | $627 | $ 398 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Garmin G1000H NXI | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 136 | 133 | 125 | 156 | 131 | 140 | 135 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $6,150,000 | $3,225,000 | $1,445,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $3,850,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 2,750,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — |
| Cabin | ||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 5 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 3 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | M250-C47E/4 | Arrius 2R | PW207C | PT6B-37A | HTS 900 | 250-C20B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 | 5500 | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 660 | 862 | 505 | 735 | 917 | 1020 | 420 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 127.8 | 84.85 | 152 | 160 | — | 64 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 46 | 32.3 | — | — | — | 35 |
| Dimensions | ||||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 33.5 | 41.4 | 42.48 | 42.5 | 42.5 | — | 30.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 12.6 | 10.2 | 10.65 | 11.5 | 11.9 | — | 8.7 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 34 | 35 | 37 | 35.5 | 35.5 | — | 26.4 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 125 | 137 | — | — | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 25.4 | 6.51 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | 4.66 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 3.9 | 2.75 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 16 | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | 7.17 | — | — | — | — |