Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw119kx vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer
By category, the Airbus H135, Bell 429 GlobalRanger (including the 429WLG), Leonardo AW109 Grand New, and MD 902 Explorer are typically positioned as light twin‑engine utility/EMS/corporate helicopters, while the Leonardo AW119Kx is a light single‑engine helicopter often used for training, utility, and patrol missions where lower operating cost and simplicity are priorities. In range terms, all are broadly short‑to‑medium range aircraft, but the AW109 Grand New is commonly regarded as among the longer‑legged in this group for light twins, with the Bell 429/429WLG and H135 generally comparable and mission‑dependent, and the MD 902 often competitive for utility profiles. The AW119Kx can offer strong endurance for a single, but its practical mission range is constrained by single‑engine operational considerations and payload tradeoffs. For passenger capacity, the Bell 429 family and H135 are frequently configured around six to seven passengers plus one or two pilots, the AW109 Grand New is similar but often optimized for VIP seating layouts, the MD 902 is commonly configured for about five to seven passengers, and the AW119Kx typically carries about six to seven passengers plus a pilot depending on interior and mission equipment.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 6.29 | $ 6.05 | $ 7.31 | $ 6.76 | $ 7.54 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 429 GlobalRanger | 429WLG GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | AW119Kx | MD 902 Exlplorer |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 365 | 381 | 464 | 515 | 317 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.84 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2535 | 2528 | — | — | 3125 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 885 | $ 988 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G500H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 148 | 154 | 156 | 131 | 131 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $7,500,000 | $7,700,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $3,850,000 | $7,250,000 |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207D1 | PW207C | PT6B-37A | PW207E |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 1100 | 1100 | 735 | 917 | 710 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | 76 | — | — | 65 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 216.9 | 152 | 160 | 159 |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 43 | 43 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 40.6 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13.25 | 12.39 | 11.5 | 11.9 | 12 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36 | 36 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 33.9 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 130 | 130 | — | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | 26.37 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | 6.58 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 74 | 74 | — | — | — |