Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Robinson Helicopters R22 Beta Ii vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven Ii
The Airbus Helicopters H125 is a light single‑engine utility helicopter, typically carrying a pilot plus up to about 5 passengers, with a moderate range suited to regional missions. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a light twin‑engine helicopter aimed at EMS, corporate, and law‑enforcement work; it generally seats 1–2 pilots plus around 6–7 passengers and offers a longer, more IFR‑oriented cross‑country range than most singles. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a light twin positioned toward fast VIP/EMS operations, usually configured for 1–2 pilots with roughly 6–7 passengers and a strong range for its class. The Leonardo SH09 is a modern light single intended for utility and passenger roles; typical layouts are around 1–2 pilots plus about 4–6 passengers, with range comparable to other light singles. The Robinson R22 Beta II is a very light piston trainer, carrying 2 people and having the shortest range of this group. The Robinson R44 Raven II is a light piston four‑seat helicopter, commonly 1 pilot plus 3 passengers, with greater range and payload than the R22 but generally less capability than turbine singles and twins.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | ROBINSON R22 Beta II | ROBINSON R44 Raven II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.31 | $4.48 | $ 1.80 | $ 2.36 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | SH09 | R22 Beta II | R44 Raven II |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 365 | 464 | 430 | 250 | 300 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.91 | $0.56 | $ 0.90 | $ 0.59 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 2535 | — | — | 490 | 995 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $627 | $ 173 | $ 257 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | EFIS | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 148 | 156 | 140 | 96 | 109 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 312,000 | $ 490,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | 7 | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | PW207D1 | PW207C | HTS 900 | O-360 | IO-540 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | AvGas | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5500 | 2000 | 2200 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 1100 | 735 | 1020 | 131 | 245 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 216.9 | 152 | — | 115 | 29.5 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | — | — | — |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | — | — | 12 | 12 |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | — | Carbureted | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 43 | 42.5 | — | 28.5 | 38.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 13.25 | 11.5 | — | 8.8 | 10.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 36 | 35.5 | — | 25.2 | 33 |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 130 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 74 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | 1.5 | 2.5 |