Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429 Globalranger
The Airbus Helicopters H125 is a single‑engine light utility helicopter, typically used for air work, tourism, and missions where strong hot‑and‑high performance matters. It generally carries a pilot plus up to five passengers (depending on configuration) and offers moderate range for regional missions. The Airbus Helicopters H135 is a twin‑engine light helicopter optimized for passenger transport, EMS, and corporate/shuttle roles where redundancy and low vibration/noise are priorities. It commonly seats a pilot plus five to six passengers, and its range is broadly comparable to other light twins, suited to short‑to‑mid regional legs. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a twin‑engine light/intermediate helicopter positioned toward higher cabin volume and passenger comfort, often used for EMS and executive transport. Typical seating is one to two pilots plus up to six to seven passengers, and it generally provides a similar or slightly stronger practical range profile than many light twins, depending on fuel fit and payload. Overall, H125 emphasizes single‑engine simplicity, while H135 and Bell 429 focus on twin‑engine capability and higher passenger/cabin utility, with the 429 often offering the most cabin space.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 6.33 | $ 6.29 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H135 | 429 GlobalRanger |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 342 | 365 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 3124 | 2535 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 861 | $ 931 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 136 | 148 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $6,150,000 | $7,500,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 660 | 1100 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 216.9 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 33.5 | 43 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 12.6 | 13.25 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 34 | 36 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 130 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 26.37 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 74 |