AIR.ONE

Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Enstrom Helicotper 480b G vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e

Across these light helicopters, categories and capacities split into three rough groups. The Airbus Helicopters H130, Bell 407GXi, Enstrom 480B-G, Leonardo SH09, and MD Helicopters MD 500E are primarily single‑engine light utility/tour/corporate aircraft, while the Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger is a larger, twin‑engine light intermediate platform oriented to EMS/corporate/utility missions with higher redundancy and payload. For passenger capacity, the H130 is typically configured for one pilot plus up to about seven passengers, making it one of the highest-capacity single‑engine types here. The 407GXi and SH09 commonly seat one pilot plus about five to six passengers. The Enstrom 480B-G and MD 500E are usually smaller-cabin singles, often arranged for one pilot plus about four passengers (configurations vary by mission). On range, the Bell 429 generally leads in practical mission radius thanks to twin-engine design and fuel options, with the 407GXi and H130 typically offering strong single‑engine ranges in the same general band. The SH09 is designed for competitive light single performance, broadly comparable to the 407/H130 class. The MD 500E and Enstrom 480B-G tend to be shorter-range in typical utility configurations.

SpecAIRBUS H130Bell 407GXiBell 429WLG GlobalRangerAGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09MD Helicopters MD 500E
Summary
Cockpit32222
DOC / nm$ 5.00$ 4.43$ 6.05$4.48$ 2.95
Min Crew11111
Total Seats76884
Flight RulesVFRVFRIFRVFRVFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersBellBellLeonardoMD Helicotpers
Aircraft NameH130407GXi429WLG GlobalRangerSH09MD 500E
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAIn-DevelopmentFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)333337381430258
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.71$ 0.74$ 0.76$0.56$ 0.74
Max Cabin Seats55663
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedVERIFIEDVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)2299230025281483
Standard Cabin Seats45662
Direct Operating Cost$ 640$ 589$ 931$627$ 398
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G500HGarmin G1000H NXIBell BasiX-ProEFISGyro / Analog
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)128133154140135
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$3,450,000$3,225,000$7,700,000$3,500,000$ 2,750,000
Max Passengers7
Cabin
Cockpit32222
Min Crew11111
Total Seats76884
Max Cabin Seats5563
Standard Cabin Seats45662
Engine
FADECYesYesYesYesNo
ModelArriel 2DM250-C47E/4PW207D1HTS 900250-C20B
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)50003500400055003500
Horsepower95286211001020420
No. of Engines11211
Fuel Capacity (gal)143127.8216.964
Fuel Burn (gph)467635
Dimensions
Length (ft)41.541.44330.9
Overall Height (ft)11.110.212.398.7
Rotor Diameter (ft)35.1353626.4
Width (ft)25.426.37
Cabin Width (ft)55
Cabin Height (ft)3.94
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)125130
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)1674
Cabin Length (ft)6.58