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Airbus Helicopters H130 vs Leonardo Aw609 Tiltrotor vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 600n vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer

The Airbus Helicopters H130 is a single‑engine light helicopter aimed at quiet passenger transport and sightseeing; it typically carries about six to seven passengers (plus a pilot) and offers a moderate range on the order of roughly 330–350 nautical miles, depending on configuration. Leonardo’s AW609 is a tiltrotor rather than a conventional helicopter, built for higher cruise speed and longer point‑to‑point missions; it generally seats six to nine passengers and is typically quoted around 750 nautical miles of range, making it the longest‑leg option here. The Leonardo SH09 is a modern single‑engine light helicopter concept/entry focused on utility and passenger missions; it is usually presented as a five‑seat class aircraft with a range broadly in the few‑hundred‑nautical‑mile bracket (often around 300–400 nm, mission dependent). The MD Helicopters MD 600N is a single‑engine light helicopter using the NOTAR anti‑torque system; it commonly carries about five to six passengers and has a range around 300–350 nm. The MD 902 Explorer is a twin‑engine, NOTAR-equipped light/medium helicopter optimized for EMS and law enforcement; it typically seats about five to seven passengers and offers a similar moderate range, often roughly 300–350 nm.

SpecAIRBUS H130AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW609 TiltrotorAGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09MD Helicopters MD 600NMD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer
Summary
Cockpit3222
DOC / nm$ 5.00$4.48$ 4.06$ 7.54
Min Crew1111
Total Seats7868
Flight RulesVFRVFRVFRVFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersLeonardoLeonardoMD HelicotpersMD Helicotpers
Aircraft NameH130AW609 TiltrotorSH09MD 600NMD 902 Exlplorer
CertificationFAA / EASAIn-DevelopmentFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)333430341317
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.71$0.56$ 0.68$ 0.94
Max Cabin Seats5656
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)229920003125
Standard Cabin Seats4656
Direct Operating Cost$ 640$627$ 545$ 988
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G500HEFISGyro / AnalogGarmin G500H
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)128140134131
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$3,450,000$20,000,000$3,500,000 $3,400,000 $7,250,000
Max Passengers7
Cabin
Cockpit3222
Min Crew1111
Total Seats7868
Max Cabin Seats556
Standard Cabin Seats4656
Engine
FADECYesYesNoNo
ModelArriel 2DHTS 900250-C47PW207E
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)5000550020004000
Horsepower9521020715710
No. of Engines1112
Fuel Capacity (gal)143118159
Fuel Burn (gph)4165
Dimensions
Length (ft)41.536.940.6
Overall Height (ft)11.19.712
Rotor Diameter (ft)35.127.533.9