Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Aw609 Tiltrotor vs Md Helicopters Md 500e
In category, the Airbus H130, Bell 505 JetRanger X, Leonardo AW119Kx, and MD 500E are single‑engine light helicopters, generally favored for lower operating costs and utility/tour missions. The Airbus H135 and Leonardo AW109 Trekker are light twin‑engine helicopters, typically chosen for higher redundancy and demanding EMS/corporate profiles. The Leonardo AW609 is a tiltrotor, bridging helicopter and airplane roles with higher cruise speed and a different operational niche. For range, the AW609 is in a higher class than the others, commonly offering the longest legs (roughly 700+ nm, configuration dependent). Among conventional helicopters, the H135 and AW109 Trekker are typically in the mid range (often around 300–400+ nm), while the H130 and AW119Kx tend to be similar or slightly higher than many light singles depending on tanks and payload (often ~300–400 nm). The Bell 505 and MD 500E generally sit toward the shorter end of this group (often ~250–350 nm). Passenger capacity (excluding pilots) is usually highest for the H130 at up to 7, with H135 and AW109 Trekker commonly around 5–6, the AW119Kx around 6, the AW609 around 6–9 depending on layout, and the Bell 505 and MD 500E typically around 4.
| Spec | AIRBUS H130 | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW609 Tiltrotor | MD Helicopters MD 500E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 5.00 | $ 6.33 | $ 3.53 | $ 7.40 | $ 6.76 | — | $ 2.95 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | — | 4 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | — | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers |
| Aircraft Name | H130 | H135 | 505 JetRanger X | AW109 Trekker | AW119Kx | AW609 Tiltrotor | MD 500E |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | — | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 333 | 342 | 306 | 450 | 515 | — | 258 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.71 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.84 | — | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 3 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | — | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2299 | 3124 | 1500 | — | — | — | 1483 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | — | 2 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 640 | $ 861 | $ 441 | $ 1,125 | $ 885 | — | $ 398 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G500H | Helionix | Garmin G1000H | Genesys Aerosystems | Garmin G1000H | — | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 128 | 136 | 125 | 152 | 131 | — | 135 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,450,000 | $6,150,000 | $1,445,000 | $6,950,000 | $3,850,000 | $20,000,000 | $ 2,750,000 |
| Cabin | |||||||
| Cockpit | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | — | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 3 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 4 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | — | 2 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — |
| Engine | |||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | — | No |
| Model | Arriel 2D | Arrius 2B2+ | Arrius 2R | PW207C | PT6B-37A | — | 250-C20B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 | — | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 952 | 660 | 505 | 735 | 917 | — | 420 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 143 | — | 84.85 | 152 | 160 | — | 64 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 32.3 | — | — | — | 35 |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Length (ft) | 41.5 | 33.5 | 42.48 | 42.5 | 42.5 | — | 30.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 11.1 | 12.6 | 10.65 | 11.5 | 11.9 | — | 8.7 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 35.1 | 34 | 37 | 35.5 | 35.5 | — | 26.4 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 173 | 137 | — | — | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 6.51 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 4.66 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 2.75 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 7.17 | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — |