Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi 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
The Airbus Helicopters H135 is a light twin, typically used for EMS and utility work, offering moderate range and about 5–7 passengers. The Bell 407GXi is a light single with similar mission flexibility, generally slightly longer range than many light twins, and about 5–6 passengers. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a light twin oriented to VIP/EMS, with good range for its class and about 6–7 passengers. The Leonardo AW119Kx is a light single with solid range and about 6–7 passengers. The Leonardo AW139 is a medium twin, a step up in cabin and payload, with longer range and roughly 12–15 passengers. The Leonardo AW169 is a light‑medium twin bridging light and medium classes, with medium range and about 8–10 passengers. The Leonardo AW189 is a larger medium twin optimized for offshore, with long range and about 16–19 passengers. The Leonardo SH09 is a light single, short‑to‑moderate range, around 4–6 passengers. The MD 500E is a light single with shorter range and about 4–5 passengers, while the MD 902 Explorer is a light twin with moderate range and about 7–8 passengers. The Robinson R66 is a light single with moderate range and about 4–5 passengers. The Sikorsky S‑76D is a medium twin with strong range and typically 12 passengers.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 407GXi | 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 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 4.43 | $ 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 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 407GXi | 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 | In-Development | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 337 | 464 | 515 | 573 | 440 | 651 | 430 | 258 | 317 | 350 | 441 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.74 | $ 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 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 6 | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-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 | — | — | 4701 | — | — | — | 1483 | 3125 | 1355 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 589 | $ 1,140 | $ 885 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,658 | $ 2,413 | $627 | $ 398 | $ 988 | $ 384 | $ 1,781 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Garmin G1000H NXI | EFIS | Garmin G1000H | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | EFIS | Gyro / Analog | Garmin G500H | Gyro / Analog | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 133 | 156 | 131 | 165 | 140 | 155 | 140 | 135 | 131 | 110 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $3,225,000 | $ 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 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||||||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | M250-C47E/4 | 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 |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 | 4500 | 5000 | 4000 | 4000 | 5500 | 3500 | 4000 | 2000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 862 | 735 | 917 | 1679 | 1000 | 1983 | 1020 | 420 | 710 | 300 | 1077 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 65 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 127.8 | 152 | 160 | 414 | — | — | — | 64 | 159 | 73.6 | 296 |
| Dimensions | ||||||||||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 41.4 | 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 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.6 | — | 8.7 | 12 | 11.4 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 35 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 54.7 | — | 48 | — | 26.4 | 33.9 | 33 | 44 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 125 | — | — | 282 | 222.5 | 395 | — | — | — | 50 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 16 | — | — | 120 | 49.5 | 85 | — | — | — | 18 | — |