Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Sikorsky S 76d
The Airbus H135 is a light twin helicopter typically used for EMS, training, and short-hop corporate missions. It sits in the light category, offers a moderate range in the roughly 300–350 nautical mile class depending on fit, and usually carries 1–2 pilots plus about 5–6 passengers (or a comparable medical/cabin layout). The Airbus H145 is a larger light/medium twin with more cabin volume and payload, generally stretching range into the roughly 330–400 nautical mile class and commonly seating 1–2 pilots with about 7–9 passengers. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is also a light twin in a similar mission set, with range typically around 330–370 nautical miles and a usual layout of 1–2 pilots plus about 6–7 passengers. The Bell 429WLG is the wheeled-gear variant; it remains in the same category and has broadly similar range and passenger capability, with small differences driven by weight and configuration. The Sikorsky S-76D steps up into the medium twin class, offering greater speed and capability, range often around 400–450 nautical miles, and typical seating of 1–2 pilots with about 8–12 passengers depending on interior.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | $ 6.29 | $ 6.05 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H145 | 429 GlobalRanger | 429WLG GlobalRanger | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 352 | 365 | 381 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 4200 | 2535 | 2528 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 931 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | Bell BasiX-Pro | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 148 | 154 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $7,700,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 | PW207D1 | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 894 | 1100 | 1100 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 | 76 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 216.9 | 216.9 | 296 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 44.8 | 43 | 43 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13 | 13.25 | 12.39 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36.1 | 36 | 36 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 166 | 130 | 130 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | 74 | 74 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 26.37 | 26.37 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | 5 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 | 6.58 | — |