Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Leonardo Sh09
The Airbus Helicopters H135 sits in the light twin category, typically offering short-to-medium range utility and EMS capability with a practical passenger load around five to six plus one or two crew, depending on interior and mission fit. The Bell 407GXi is a light single, generally trading lower acquisition and operating complexity for less redundancy than twins, with medium range and a typical payload allowing roughly five passengers plus pilot in many layouts. The Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger is a light twin positioned above the H135 in cabin volume, commonly configured for six to seven passengers plus crew and offering medium range with strong IFR and mission flexibility. The Leonardo AW109 Trekker is a light twin with higher speed emphasis, usually carrying six to seven passengers plus crew and providing medium range, often competitive on point-to-point travel. The Leonardo SH09 is a newer light single concept aimed at efficiency and simplicity, generally in the same passenger class as other light singles at about four to five passengers plus pilot, with medium range expectations depending on final configuration.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 4.43 | $ 6.05 | $ 7.40 | $4.48 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 407GXi | 429WLG GlobalRanger | AW109 Trekker | SH09 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 337 | 381 | 450 | 430 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.93 | $0.56 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2300 | 2528 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 589 | $ 931 | $ 1,125 | $627 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Garmin G1000H NXI | Bell BasiX-Pro | Genesys Aerosystems | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 133 | 154 | 152 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $3,225,000 | $7,700,000 | $6,950,000 | $3,500,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | — | 7 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | M250-C47E/4 | PW207D1 | PW207C | HTS 900 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 5500 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 862 | 1100 | 735 | 1020 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 46 | 76 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 127.8 | 216.9 | 152 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 41.4 | 43 | 42.5 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 10.2 | 12.39 | 11.5 | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 35 | 36 | 35.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 125 | 130 | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.4 | 26.37 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 3.9 | 4 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 16 | 74 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 6.58 | — | — |