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Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer

The Airbus H135 is a light twin positioned for short to mid-range missions; it typically carries a pilot plus about five to six passengers, and offers roughly a 300–350 nm class range depending on configuration. The Airbus H145 is a larger light/medium twin with more cabin volume; it commonly seats a pilot plus seven to eight passengers and tends to reach the high‑300s to low‑400s nm in practical range, again mission dependent. Bell’s 429 GlobalRanger sits in the light twin segment similar to the H145 in role, usually configured for a pilot plus six to seven passengers and offering around the 370–410 nm range class. The Leonardo AW169 is a step up into the light‑intermediate/medium category, optimized for higher payload and speed; typical layouts are a pilot plus seven to eight passengers, with range often in the ~400+ nm class depending on tanks and reserves. The MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer is a light twin best known for its NOTAR anti‑torque system; it generally carries a pilot plus five to six passengers and has a shorter overall range class, commonly around ~250–350 nm depending on mission fit.

SpecAIRBUS H135AIRBUS H145Bell 429 GlobalRangerAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer
Summary
Cockpit22222
DOC / nm$ 6.33$ 9.31$ 6.29$ 11.84$ 7.54
Min Crew11111
Total Seats9108128
Flight RulesIFRIFRIFRIFRVFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersAirbus HelicoptersBellLeonardoMD Helicotpers
Aircraft NameH135H145429 GlobalRangerAW169MD 902 Exlplorer
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)342352365440317
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.79$ 0.93$ 0.79$ 0.99$ 0.94
Max Cabin Seats796106
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedUn-VerifiedVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)3124420025353125
Standard Cabin Seats786106
Direct Operating Cost$ 861$ 1,210$ 931$ 1,658$ 988
Flight Deck (Base Spec)HelionixEFISBell BasiX-ProEFISGarmin G500H
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)136130148140131
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$6,150,000$10,200,000$7,500,000 $9,450,000 $7,250,000
Cabin
Cockpit22222
Min Crew11111
Total Seats9108128
ConfigurationGreen InteriorGreen Interior
Max Cabin Seats796106
Standard Cabin Seats786106
Engine
FADECYesYesYesYesNo
ModelArrius 2B2+Arriel 2EPW207D1PW210APW207E
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)40004000400040004000
Horsepower66089411001000710
No. of Engines22222
Fuel Burn (gph)7665
Fuel Capacity (gal)216.9159
Dimensions
Length (ft)33.544.84348.140.6
Overall Height (ft)12.61313.2514.812
Rotor Diameter (ft)3436.13633.9
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)173166130222.5
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)46.87449.5
Width (ft)26.37
Cabin Width (ft)5
Cabin Height (ft)4
Cabin Length (ft)6.58