Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 407gxi vs Leonardo Sh09

Airbus Helicopters’ H135, Bell’s 407GXi, and Leonardo’s SH09 all sit in the light single/twin helicopter space but target slightly different missions. The H135 is a light twin-engine helicopter, commonly chosen for EMS, law enforcement, and corporate transport because twin engines provide added redundancy; it typically carries a pilot plus about five to six passengers depending on configuration. Its practical range is generally in the mid-hundreds of nautical miles, varying with fuel options and payload. The Bell 407GXi is a light single-engine helicopter optimized for utility, patrol, and passenger work with strong hot-and-high performance; it usually seats a pilot plus five to six passengers. Range is also typically in the mid-hundreds of nautical miles, often competitive with the H135 depending on tanks and reserves. Leonardo’s SH09 is a newer-generation light single-engine design aimed at roles like passenger transport and public services; planned capacity is broadly similar, around a pilot plus up to six passengers, with an expected range in the same general mid-hundreds-of-nautical-miles class, subject to final certified figures and chosen configuration.