Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Airbus Helicopters H155 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Bell 525 Relentless
All five are twin‑engine rotorcraft, but they span light to super‑medium categories. The Airbus H135 and Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger sit in the light‑twin class, typically used for EMS, police, and short‑to‑medium missions; they generally carry about six to seven passengers (depending on configuration) and offer moderate ranges on the order of a few hundred nautical miles. The Airbus H145 is a larger light‑twin/“intermediate” utility helicopter with more cabin volume and payload flexibility; it commonly seats around eight to nine passengers and tends to have similar or slightly better practical range than the smallest light twins, again typically a few hundred nautical miles. The Airbus H155 moves into the medium twin category, aimed at offshore and VIP transport, with a larger cabin often accommodating roughly nine to twelve passengers and a longer, more mission‑oriented range that can approach the upper end of the “few hundred nautical miles” band. The Bell 525 Relentless is a super‑medium, designed for longer offshore legs and higher capacity; it generally seats more passengers (often around a dozen-plus in transport layouts) and targets the longest range of this group, extending into roughly the high‑hundreds nautical miles class depending on fit and reserves.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | AIRBUS H155 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | Bell 525 Relentless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | $ 11.06 | $ 6.05 | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 18 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H145 | H155 | 429WLG GlobalRanger | 525 Relentless |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 352 | 423 | 381 | 580 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.76 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 4200 | 4012 | 2528 | 6675 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 16 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | $ 1,593 | $ 931 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G5000H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 144 | 154 | 160 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $14,800,000 | $7,700,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 18 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 16 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | Arriel 2E | Arriel 2C2 | PW207D1 | CT7-2F1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 894 | 943 | 1100 | 1800 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 332 | 216.9 | 641 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 76 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 44.8 | 46.9 | 43 | 61.58 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13 | 14.3 | 12.39 | 18.18 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36.1 | 41.1 | 36 | 54.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 166 | 235.2 | 130 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | 88.3 | 74 | 128 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | — | 26.37 | 25.77 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | — | 5 | 7.58 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | — | 4 | 4.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | 6.58 | 15.5 |