Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Sikorsky S 76d
The Airbus H125 and Bell 505 JetRanger X sit in the light single‑engine category, typically carrying about 4–6 passengers depending on configuration and fuel; they are optimized for short to mid-range missions, with the H125 generally offering the stronger useful load and high/hot performance and the 505 aimed at efficient light utility and training, both usually in the few-hundred‑nautical‑mile class. The Airbus H145 and Bell 429 GlobalRanger are light twin‑engine helicopters, commonly configured for about 6–8 passengers, and they extend practical range versus the light singles into roughly the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles while adding redundancy and IFR-capable mission flexibility. The Sikorsky S‑76D is a medium twin often used for executive and offshore work, typically seating around 8 passengers with range commonly in the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles. The Leonardo AW139 is the larger medium twin of this group, frequently configured for about 10–15 passengers, and it generally delivers the highest passenger capacity and strong medium‑range performance, often comparable to or exceeding the S‑76D depending on fit and fuel.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 9.31 | $ 6.29 | $ 3.53 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H145 | 429 GlobalRanger | 505 JetRanger X | AW139 | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 352 | 365 | 306 | 573 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 9 | 6 | — | 15 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 4200 | 2535 | 1500 | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 441 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 148 | 125 | 165 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $10,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $1,445,000 | $15,900,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 12 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 9 | 6 | — | 15 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 10 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 | Arrius 2R | PT6C-67C | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 894 | 1100 | 505 | 1679 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 216.9 | 84.85 | 414 | 296 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 | 32.3 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 44.8 | 43 | 42.48 | 54.7 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 13 | 13.25 | 10.65 | 16.4 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 36.1 | 36 | 37 | 54.7 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 166 | 130 | 137 | 282 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | 74 | 18 | 120 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 26.37 | 6.51 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | 4.66 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4 | 2.75 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 | 7.17 | — | — |