Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer
By category, the Airbus Helicopters H135 and MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer are typically positioned as light twin-engine utility/EMS helicopters, valued for compact footprints and strong mission adaptability. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger sits at the upper end of the light-twin segment, often viewed as a roomier light twin suited to corporate, HEMS, and public-safety roles. Leonardo’s AW109 Grand New and AW109 Trekker are light twin-engine helicopters with a stronger tilt toward high-speed executive and VIP transport, with the Trekker generally emphasizing utility flexibility while retaining the AW109 performance character. In range, all five are in broadly comparable light-twin territory, but the AW109 variants and Bell 429 commonly advertise the longer legs in typical configurations, while the H135 and MD 902 often prioritize role equipment, cabin access, and operating economics over maximum cruise range. For passenger capacity, these aircraft generally seat around six to seven passengers in typical corporate layouts, with the Bell 429 and AW109s often configured up to seven or eight seats depending on interior and mission fit, while the H135 and MD 902 commonly field six to seven with more space allocated to medical or mission equipment when required.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 6.29 | $ 7.31 | $ 7.40 | $ 7.54 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | AW109 Trekker | MD 902 Exlplorer |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 365 | 464 | 450 | 317 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2535 | — | — | 3125 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,125 | $ 988 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | Genesys Aerosystems | Garmin G500H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 148 | 156 | 152 | 131 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $7,500,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $6,950,000 | $7,250,000 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207C | PW207C | PW207E |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 1100 | 735 | 735 | 710 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | — | 65 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 152 | 152 | 159 |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 43 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 40.6 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 13.25 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 12 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 33.9 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 173 | 130 | — | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 74 | — | — | — |