Airbus Helicopters H125 vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 530f vs Robinson Helicopters R66
All six are single‑engine light helicopters, but they split into two size classes. Airbus Helicopters’ H125 and Leonardo’s AW119Kx sit at the top end of the segment, typically configured for about 5–6 passengers plus a pilot, and they generally offer the longest practical reach in this group, with typical ranges on the order of roughly 300–350+ nautical miles depending on fit, fuel, and reserves. The Bell 505 JetRanger X and Robinson R66 are lighter, commonly carrying about 4 passengers plus a pilot, with mid‑pack ranges often around roughly 300–330 nautical miles in typical configurations. MD Helicopters’ MD 530F is similarly in the lighter utility class; seating is commonly around 4 passengers plus a pilot, and range is often in the high‑200 to low‑300 nautical mile neighborhood depending on tanks and mission. Leonardo’s SH09 is aimed at modern light‑single roles and is generally positioned around the 4‑passenger‑plus‑pilot class with a range broadly comparable to other light singles, typically around the ~300 nautical mile mark, configuration dependent.
| Spec | AIRBUS H125 | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 530F | ROBINSON R66 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.61 | $ 3.53 | $ 6.76 | $4.48 | $ 3.59 | $ 3.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | H125 | 505 JetRanger X | AW119Kx | SH09 | MD 530F | R66 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 306 | 515 | 430 | 216 | 350 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.77 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.84 | $0.56 | $ 0.90 | $ 0.70 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | — | 6 | 6 | 3 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2189 | 1500 | — | — | 1509 | 1355 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 627 | $ 441 | $ 885 | $627 | $ 480 | $ 384 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | Garmin G500H | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 125 | 131 | 140 | 134 | 110 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,200,000 | $1,445,000 | $3,850,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 3,400,000 | $ 920,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | 7 | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 6 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | — | 6 | — | 3 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2R | PT6B-37A | HTS 900 | 250-C30 | RR300 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4500 | 5500 | 2000 | 2000 |
| Horsepower | 847 | 505 | 917 | 1020 | 650 | 300 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | 84.85 | 160 | — | 64 | 73.6 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 32.3 | — | — | 35 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 42.5 | 42.48 | 42.5 | — | 32.2 | 38.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10 | 10.65 | 11.9 | — | 8.7 | 11.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 37 | 35.5 | — | 27.5 | 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 |