Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer
The Airbus Helicopters H135 is typically positioned as a light twin for EMS, police, and corporate missions, offering a moderate range (commonly in the mid–hundreds of nautical miles, mission dependent) and a practical cabin that often seats around five to seven passengers in corporate layout (or accommodates medical interiors efficiently). The Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger sits a step up in cabin volume and payload for the light-twin class, generally providing similar or slightly better real-world mission range and commonly seating six to eight passengers depending on configuration. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is oriented more toward fast, premium corporate/VIP and multi-mission use; it often achieves comparable mid–hundreds-of-nautical-miles range but is frequently configured for about six to seven passengers with a higher-end cabin emphasis. The MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer is a light twin known for its NOTAR anti-torque system and utility/EMS flexibility; it generally offers mid–hundreds-of-nautical-miles range as well, with seating typically around five to seven passengers depending on mission equipment and interior choices.
| Spec | AIRBUS H135 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.33 | $ 6.05 | $ 7.31 | $ 7.54 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | MD Helicotpers |
| Aircraft Name | H135 | 429WLG GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | MD 902 Exlplorer |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 342 | 381 | 464 | 317 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.76 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3124 | 2528 | — | 3125 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 861 | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 988 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Helionix | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | Garmin G500H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 136 | 154 | 156 | 131 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $6,150,000 | $7,700,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $7,250,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Model | Arrius 2B2+ | PW207D1 | PW207C | PW207E |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 660 | 1100 | 735 | 710 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | 65 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 152 | 159 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 33.5 | 43 | 42.5 | 40.6 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 12.6 | 12.39 | 11.5 | 12 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 34 | 36 | 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 | — | — |