Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 vs Beechcraft King Air 360er vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Pilatus Pc 12 Ngx
By category, the Airbus Helicopters H135, Bell 429 GlobalRanger, and Leonardo AW109 Trekker are twin‑engine light helicopters optimized for vertical access, short hops, and point‑to‑point missions into tight sites. The Beechcraft King Air 360 and 360ER are twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft aimed at faster regional travel and higher cruise efficiency, while the Pilatus PC‑12 NGX is a single‑engine turboprop known for versatility and strong short/rough‑field capability. On range, helicopters generally sit well below the turboprops: the H135 is typically around 300–350 nm, the Bell 429 about 350–400 nm, and the AW109 Trekker roughly 450–500 nm depending on fit and reserves. The PC‑12 NGX commonly reaches about 1,700–1,800 nm. The King Air 360 is around 1,500–1,800 nm, while the 360ER extends that to roughly 2,200–2,600 nm for longer legs. For passenger capacity, these types cluster differently: the H135 typically carries about 5–7 passengers, the Bell 429 about 6–7, and the AW109 Trekker about 6–7. The PC‑12 NGX is commonly configured for 6–9 passengers. The King Air 360/360ER are often 6–9 seats in executive layouts, with higher-density options possible.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Beechcraft King Air 360 | Beechcraft King Air 360ER | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | Pilatus PC-12 NGX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 4.20 | $ 4.37 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.40 | $ 2.78 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Beechcraft | Beechcraft | Bell | Leonardo | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | KingAir 350i | KingAir 350ER | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Trekker | PC-12 NGX |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 1560 | 2338 | 365 | 450 | 1803 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.53 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.46 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 5145 | 6585 | 2535 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 1,311 | $ 1,324 | $ 931 | $ 1,125 | $ 793 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion | Bell BasiX-Pro | Genesys Aerosystems | Honeywell Primus Apex |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 312 | 303 | 148 | 152 | 290 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $7,650,000 | $8,750,000 | $7,500,000 | $6,950,000 | $5,350,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | Optional | Yes (Belted Optional) | — | — | Optional |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD | — | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | AFT | — | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.5 | 6.5 | — | — | 5.8 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Optional | Refreshment Center | — | — | No |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Optional | — | — | Yes |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | — | 13100 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | PT6A-60A | PT6A-60A | PW207D1 | PW207C | PT6E-67XP |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3600 | 3600 | 4000 | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 1050 | 1050 | 1100 | 735 | 1200 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 10 | — | — | ISA + 35 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 539 | 775 | 216.9 | 152 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | — | 76 | — | — |
| Usable Fuel (gal) | — | — | — | — | — | 402 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 46.7 | 46.7 | 43 | 42.5 | 47.25 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 13.25 | 11.5 | 14 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | — | — | 36 | 35.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | — | — | 130 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 57.9 | 57.9 | — | — | 53.33 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 | — | 5 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4 | — | 4.9 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 19.5 | 19.5 | 6.58 | — | 16.9 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 4.1 | 4.1 | — | — | 4.25 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 19.5 | 19.5 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 71 | 71 | — | — | 40 |
| Width (ft) | — | — | — | 26.37 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 74 | — | — |