Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Leonardo Aw169 vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Robinson Helicopters R66 vs Sikorsky S 76d
By category, the Airbus H135, Bell 407GXi, Bell 505, Leonardo AW109 Grand New, AW119Kx, MD 500E, MD 902 Explorer, Robinson R66, and Sikorsky S-76D are light helicopters (though S-76D is often considered light-intermediate for offshore/VIP). The Leonardo AW139 and AW169 sit in the intermediate class, while the AW189 and Bell 525 Relentless are super-medium. The Leonardo SH09 is a modern light single. For range, the light singles (Bell 505, R66, MD 500E, AW119Kx, SH09) are typically shortest-to-mid, the light twins (H135, AW109, MD 902, S-76D) generally longer and more IFR-mission oriented, the intermediate twins (AW139, AW169) longer still, and the super-medium class (AW189, Bell 525) offers the longest ranges for offshore/utility profiles. For passenger capacity, light singles commonly carry about 4–6 passengers, light twins about 5–7 (sometimes up to 8), intermediate twins about 8–10+ depending on layout, and super-medium types typically around 12–16+ in high-density configurations, with VIP fits reducing seats to add comfort and baggage.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 407GXi | Bell 505 JetRanger X | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO SH09 | MD Helicopters MD 500E | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer | ROBINSON R66 | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 4.43 | $ 3.53 | — | $ 7.31 | $ 6.76 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.84 | $ 15.57 | $4.48 | $ 2.95 | $ 7.54 | $ 3.49 | $ 11.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 407GXi | 505 JetRanger X | 525 Relentless | AW109 Grand New | AW119Kx | AW139 | AW169 | AW189 | SH09 | MD 500E | MD 902 Exlplorer | R66 | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 337 | 306 | 580 | 464 | 515 | 573 | 440 | 651 | 430 | 258 | 317 | 350 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.71 | — | $ 0.91 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.99 | $ 0.74 | $0.56 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.94 | $ 0.70 | $ 0.96 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | — | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 6 | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2300 | 1500 | 6675 | — | — | 4701 | — | — | — | 1483 | 3125 | 1355 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 589 | $ 441 | — | $ 1,140 | $ 885 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 | $627 | $ 398 | $ 988 | $ 384 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Garmin G1000H NXI | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G5000H | EFIS | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | Gyro / Analog | Garmin G500H | Gyro / Analog | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 133 | 125 | 160 | 156 | 131 | 165 | 140 | 155 | 140 | 135 | 131 | 110 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $3,225,000 | $1,445,000 | $15,000,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $3,850,000 | $15,900,000 | $9,450,000 | $2,413,000 | $3,500,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $7,250,000 | $ 920,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||||||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | — | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||||||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | M250-C47E/4 | Arrius 2R | CT7-2F1 | PW207C | PT6B-37A | PT6C-67C | PW210A | CT7-2E1 | HTS 900 | 250-C20B | PW207E | RR300 | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5500 | 3500 | 4000 | 2000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 862 | 505 | 1800 | 735 | 917 | 1679 | 1000 | 1983 | 1020 | 420 | 710 | 300 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 46 | 32.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 65 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 127.8 | 84.85 | 641 | 152 | 160 | 414 | — | — | — | 64 | 159 | 73.6 | 296 |
| Dimensions | ||||||||||||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 41.4 | 42.48 | 61.58 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 54.7 | 48.1 | 57.8 | — | 30.9 | 40.6 | 38.3 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 10.2 | 10.65 | 18.18 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.6 | — | 8.7 | 12 | 11.4 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 35 | 37 | 54.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 54.7 | — | 48 | — | 26.4 | 33.9 | 33 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 125 | 137 | — | — | — | 282 | 222.5 | 395 | — | — | — | 50 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.4 | 6.51 | 25.77 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | 4.66 | 7.58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 3.9 | 2.75 | 4.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 16 | 18 | 128 | — | — | 120 | 49.5 | 85 | — | — | — | 18 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | — | 7.17 | 15.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |