Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 412epi vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169
The Airbus H135 and Bell 505 JetRanger X sit in the light single/twin end: the H135 is a light twin with typically 5–7 passengers and moderate range (roughly 300–400 nm class), while the 505 is a light single with about 4 passengers and shorter-to-moderate range (around the mid‑200 nm class). The Bell 407GXi is a light single, usually carrying about 5–6 passengers with similar moderate range (around 300 nm class). The Bell 429 GlobalRanger and 429WLG are light twins, commonly 6–7 passengers with moderate range (roughly 350–400 nm class); the WLG variant is essentially a configuration/gear option rather than a different size class. The Airbus H160 and Leonardo AW169 are medium twins: the H160 typically carries about 6–8 passengers with moderate-to-strong range (around 450 nm class), while the AW169 often seats about 6–8 (up to around 10 depending on layout) with broadly comparable range (roughly 400+ nm class). The Bell 412EPi is a medium twin carrying about 10–13 passengers with moderate range (roughly 350–400 nm class). The Leonardo AW139 and Bell 525 Relentless are super-medium: the AW139 typically carries about 12–15 passengers with around 500+ nm class range, and the 525 is similar capacity (about 12–16) with strong range (often ~500+ nm class).
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 412EPi | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | Bell 505 JetRanger X | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | — | $ 4.43 | $ 12.09 | $ 6.29 | $ 6.05 | $ 3.53 | — | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Bell | Bell | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | H160 | 407GXi | 412EPi | 429 GlobalRanger | 429WLG GlobalRanger | 505 JetRanger X | 525 Relentless | AW139 | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 460 | 337 | 361 | 365 | 381 | 306 | 580 | 573 | 440 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | — | $ 0.74 | $ 0.86 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.71 | — | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | 16 | 15 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 3992 | 2300 | 4829 | 2535 | 2528 | 1500 | 6675 | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | — | $ 589 | $ 1,487 | $ 931 | $ 931 | $ 441 | — | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | EFIS | Garmin G1000H NXI | Bell BasiX-Pro | Bell BasiX-Pro | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 155 | 133 | 123 | 148 | 154 | 125 | 160 | 165 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $14,000,000 | $3,225,000 | $ 12,500,000 | $7,500,000 | $7,700,000 | $1,445,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 6 | — | 16 | 15 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | HE Arrano | M250-C47E/4 | PT6T-9 | PW207D1 | PW207D1 | Arrius 2R | CT7-2F1 | PT6C-67C | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | — | 862 | 1370 | 1100 | 1100 | 505 | 1800 | 1679 | 1000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 46 | 113 | 76 | 76 | 32.3 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | 127.8 | 330.5 | 216.9 | 216.9 | 84.85 | 641 | 414 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 39.4 | 41.4 | 52.1 | 43 | 43 | 42.48 | 61.58 | 54.7 | 48.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13.1 | 10.2 | 11.5 | 13.25 | 12.39 | 10.65 | 18.18 | 16.4 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 45.2 | 35 | 46 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 54.5 | 54.7 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | — | 125 | 220 | 130 | 130 | 137 | — | 282 | 222.5 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | 25.4 | 33 | 26.37 | 26.37 | 6.51 | 25.77 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | — | 5 | — | 5 | 5 | 4.66 | 7.58 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | — | 3.9 | — | 4 | 4 | 2.75 | 4.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 16 | 28 | 74 | 74 | 18 | 128 | 120 | 49.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | — | — | 6.58 | 6.58 | 7.17 | 15.5 | — | — |