Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker
Airbus Helicopters’ H125 and Bell’s 407GXi are single‑engine utility helicopters in a similar category, typically offering solid short‑to‑medium mission range and seating around five to six passengers plus a pilot, with the H125 often favored for high‑and‑hot and lifting work while the 407GXi emphasizes cruise comfort and speed. The Bell 505 JetRanger X is also single‑engine but in the lighter, entry/light‑utility class; it generally carries about four passengers plus a pilot and tends to have shorter range than the H125 or 407GXi, making it more oriented to training, private, and short business hops. Leonardo’s AW109 Grand New and AW109 Trekker move up into the twin‑engine light/intermediate class, typically configured for six to seven passengers plus one or two pilots, with longer legs and greater redundancy than the single‑engine models. Between the two AW109 variants, the Grand New is positioned more for premium passenger transport, while the Trekker targets flexible utility and mixed‑mission use, with range generally comparable within the AW109 family depending on tanks and fit.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 4.43 | $ 3.53 | $ 7.31 | $ 7.40 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | 407GXi | 505 JetRanger X | AW109 Grand New | AW109 Trekker |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 337 | 306 | 464 | 450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.93 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | — | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 2300 | 1500 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 589 | $ 441 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,125 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Garmin G1000H NXI | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | Genesys Aerosystems |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 133 | 125 | 156 | 152 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $3,225,000 | $1,445,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $6,950,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 5 | — | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | M250-C47E/4 | Arrius 2R | PW207C | PW207C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 862 | 505 | 735 | 735 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 127.8 | 84.85 | 152 | 152 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 46 | 32.3 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 41.4 | 42.48 | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 10.2 | 10.65 | 11.5 | 11.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 35 | 37 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.4 | 6.51 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | 4.66 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 3.9 | 2.75 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 125 | 137 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 16 | 18 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 7.17 | — | — |