Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 429 Globalranger
The Airbus Helicopters H125 and Bell 407GXi are best viewed as single‑engine light utility helicopters, while the Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a twin‑engine light/medium helicopter aimed more at IFR-capable corporate, EMS, and public-safety roles. In passenger capacity, the H125 and 407GXi typically seat a pilot plus up to five or six passengers depending on configuration and payload limits, whereas the Bell 429 generally offers a larger cabin with seating commonly arranged for one or two pilots plus up to six or seven passengers, with more flexibility for mission equipment. For range, the H125 and 407GXi are in a similar light single category, typically offering roughly the mid‑300 to low‑400 nautical mile class in standard fuel configurations, while the Bell 429 is often in a comparable or slightly higher class depending on fuel and mission fit, commonly around the high‑300 to low‑400 nautical mile range. Overall, the H125 emphasizes high‑hot performance and utility lift, the 407GXi emphasizes speed and efficiency in the single‑engine segment, and the 429 emphasizes twin‑engine redundancy and cabin/IFR mission capability.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 429 GlobalRanger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 4.43 | $ 6.29 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | 407GXi | 429 GlobalRanger |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 337 | 365 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.79 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 2300 | 2535 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 589 | $ 931 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Garmin G1000H NXI | Bell BasiX-Pro |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 133 | 148 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $3,225,000 | $7,500,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | M250-C47E/4 | PW207D1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 862 | 1100 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 127.8 | 216.9 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 46 | 76 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 41.4 | 43 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 10.2 | 13.25 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 35 | 36 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.4 | 26.37 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 3.9 | 4 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 125 | 130 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 16 | 74 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 |