Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Sikorsky S 76d
In the light twin category, the Airbus H135 is typically the smallest and shortest‑ranged of this group, aimed at EMS, training, and urban utility missions, with seating commonly configured around five to seven passengers (depending on interior and mission fit). The Airbus H145 is a larger light twin with a noticeably roomier cabin and generally longer range than the H135, often arranged for roughly seven to nine passengers and frequently chosen where cabin volume and payload flexibility matter. The Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger also sits in the light twin class, broadly comparable to the H145 in passenger accommodation (often up to seven or eight in typical layouts) and offering competitive range for regional corporate, utility, and EMS work. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a light twin biased toward speed and executive transport, usually carrying about six to seven passengers in VIP layouts with range in the same general bracket as other light twins. The Sikorsky S‑76D is a medium twin, larger and heavier than the others, typically offering the greatest passenger capacity (often eight to twelve depending on layout) and generally the longest practical range among these models.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 9.31 | $ 6.05 | $ 7.31 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H145 | 429WLG GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 352 | 381 | 464 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 4200 | 2528 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 130 | 154 | 156 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $10,200,000 | $7,700,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $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 | PW207C | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 894 | 1100 | 735 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 76 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 216.9 | 152 | 296 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 44.8 | 43 | 42.5 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13 | 12.39 | 11.5 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36.1 | 36 | 35.5 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 166 | 130 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 46.8 | 74 | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 26.37 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 | — | — |