Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven Ii
The Airbus H125 and MD Helicopters MD 500E sit in the light single‑engine utility category, typically carrying a pilot plus about five passengers depending on configuration; both are often used for aerial work and utility missions, with the H125 generally offering the longer practical range. The Bell 505 JetRanger X and Robinson R44 Raven II are lighter single‑engine helicopters aimed at training, private, and light utility roles; the 505 commonly seats up to four or five including the pilot, while the R44 is typically four seats total, and both have shorter ranges than the larger utility singles. The Airbus H145 and Bell 429 GlobalRanger are light twin‑engine aircraft, generally configured for one or two pilots plus roughly six to eight passengers, making them better suited to EMS, offshore support, and corporate transport. In general terms, the twins (H145 and 429) offer the greatest mission flexibility and comparable or better range than the smallest singles, while the light singles cluster in the mid-to-short range bracket with lower passenger capacity.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | Bell 505 JetRanger X | MD Helicopters MD 500E | ROBINSON R44 Raven II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 9.31 | $ 6.29 | $ 3.53 | $ 2.95 | $ 2.36 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | H145 | 429 GlobalRanger | 505 JetRanger X | MD 500E | R44 Raven II |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 352 | 365 | 306 | 258 | 300 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.59 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 9 | 6 | — | 3 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 4200 | 2535 | 1500 | 1483 | 995 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 441 | $ 398 | $ 257 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G1000H | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 148 | 125 | 135 | 109 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $10,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $1,445,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $ 490,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 9 | 6 | — | 3 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | No | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 | Arrius 2R | 250-C20B | IO-540 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 3500 | 2200 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 894 | 1100 | 505 | 420 | 245 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 216.9 | 84.85 | 64 | 29.5 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 | 32.3 | 35 | — |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | — | — | — | 12 |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 44.8 | 43 | 42.48 | 30.9 | 38.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 13 | 13.25 | 10.65 | 8.7 | 10.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 36.1 | 36 | 37 | 26.4 | 33 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 166 | 130 | 137 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | 74 | 18 | — | — |
| 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 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | — | 2.5 |