Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger
Airbus Helicopters’ H130 is a single‑engine light helicopter typically positioned for tourism, utility, and private transport. It generally offers the lowest cruise range of this group (often in the mid‑300 nm class depending on fit) and commonly seats one pilot plus about six to seven passengers in a high‑visibility cabin. The H135 is a twin‑engine light helicopter aimed at EMS, law enforcement, and corporate roles. Its typical range is broadly similar or slightly higher than an H130 when configured for transport (often roughly mid‑300 nm), but real‑world endurance varies strongly with mission equipment. Passenger capacity is usually one to two pilots plus five to six passengers (or a medical interior). The H145 is the larger twin‑engine step up, with more useful load and cabin volume. It commonly delivers longer legs than the H130/H135 (often around the high‑300 to ~400+ nm class) and can carry one to two pilots plus seven to eight passengers in transport layouts. Bell’s 429WLG GlobalRanger is a twin‑engine competitor to the H135/H145, typically offering strong range (often around ~390–410 nm) and seating commonly one to two pilots plus six to seven passengers.
| Spec | AIRBUS H130 | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.00 | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | $ 6.05 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell |
| Aircraft Name | H130 | H135 | H145 | 429WLG GlobalRanger |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 333 | 342 | 352 | 381 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.71 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.76 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2299 | 3124 | 4200 | 2528 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 640 | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | $ 931 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 128 | 136 | 130 | 154 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,450,000 | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $7,700,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | Green Interior | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 952 | 660 | 894 | 1100 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | — | 216.9 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 76 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 41.5 | 33.5 | 44.8 | 43 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.1 | 12.6 | 13 | 12.39 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 35.1 | 34 | 36.1 | 36 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 166 | 130 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 46.8 | 74 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | — | 26.37 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | — | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | — | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | 6.58 |