Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Enstrom Helicotper 280fx Shark vs Enstrom Helicotper 480b G vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 520n vs Md Helicopters Md 530f vs Md Helicopters Md 600n vs Robinson Helicopters R22 Beta Ii vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven I vs Robinson Helicopters R66
All of these are light helicopters, spanning training pistons through high‑performance singles. The Robinson R22 Beta II is a two‑seat piston trainer with the shortest typical range. The Bell 505, Enstrom 280FX Shark, Robinson R44 Raven I, and Enstrom 480B‑G are four‑seat light singles (mostly piston), generally offering moderate range suited to training, touring, and utility work. The Airbus H125, Leonardo AW119Kx, Leonardo SH09, Robinson R66, and MD 530F are larger light single‑engine turbines that usually carry five to seven occupants (depending on configuration) and provide longer range and higher hot‑and‑high/utility capability than the piston group. Within the MD family, the MD 500E is a light turbine typically configured for about five, while the MD 520N and MD 600N add the NOTAR anti‑torque system and are commonly configured for about five to seven, with the MD 600N generally offering the greatest cabin volume and range among the MD options listed. Overall, passenger capacity rises from 2 (R22) to roughly 4 (505/280FX/480B/R44) to roughly 5–7 (H125/AW119/SH09/R66/MD 530F/MD 600N), and typical range broadly follows the same progression from shortest (R22) to longest (larger turbine singles).
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 500E | MD Helicopters MD 520N | MD Helicopters MD 530F | MD Helicopters MD 600N | ROBINSON R22 Beta II | ROBINSON R44 Raven I | ROBINSON R66 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 3.53 | $ 6.76 | $4.48 | $ 2.95 | $ 3.38 | $ 3.59 | $ 4.06 | $ 1.80 | $ 2.30 | $ 3.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | 505 JetRanger X | AW119Kx | SH09 | MD 500E | MD 520N | MD 530F | MD 600N | R22 Beta II | R44 Raven I | R66 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 306 | 515 | 430 | 258 | 210 | 216 | 341 | 250 | 300 | 350 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.84 | $0.56 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.85 | $ 0.90 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.90 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.70 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | — | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 1500 | — | — | 1483 | 1764 | 1509 | 2000 | 490 | 950 | 1355 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 3 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 441 | $ 885 | $627 | $ 398 | $ 416 | $ 480 | $ 545 | $ 173 | $ 248 | $ 384 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Garmin G500H | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 125 | 131 | 140 | 135 | 123 | 134 | 134 | 96 | 108 | 110 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $1,445,000 | $3,850,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $ 2,900,000 | $ 3,400,000 | $3,400,000 | $ 312,000 | $ 412,000 | $ 920,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin | |||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | — | 6 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 3 |
| Engine | |||||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2R | PT6B-37A | HTS 900 | 250-C20B | 250-C20R | 250-C30 | 250-C47 | O-360 | O-540 | RR300 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | AvGas | AvGas | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4500 | 5500 | 3500 | 3500 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2200 | 2000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 505 | 917 | 1020 | 420 | 450 | 650 | 715 | 131 | 225 | 300 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 84.85 | 160 | — | 64 | 64 | 64 | 118 | 115 | 29.5 | 73.6 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 32.3 | — | — | 35 | 35 | 35 | 41 | — | — | — |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Carbureted | Carbureted | — |
| Dimensions | |||||||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 42.48 | 42.5 | — | 30.9 | 31.4 | 32.2 | 36.9 | 28.5 | 38.3 | 38.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 10.65 | 11.9 | — | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 11.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 37 | 35.5 | — | 26.4 | 27.4 | 27.5 | 27.5 | 25.2 | 33 | 33 |
| Width (ft) | — | 6.51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4.66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 2.75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 7.17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 137 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 50 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5 | 2.5 | — |