Airbus Helicopters H135 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Robinson Helicopters R66

In category, the Airbus Helicopters H135 and Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger sit in the light twin-engine class aimed at EMS, law enforcement, and corporate utility, offering strong redundancy and all-weather capability. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is also a light twin but is typically positioned as a faster, more premium corporate/VIP light twin with higher cruise performance. The MD Helicopters MD 902 Explorer is a light twin with distinctive NOTAR anti-torque technology, often valued for low external noise and urban operations. The Robinson R66 is a light single-engine turbine, generally simpler and lower-cost, oriented toward training, utility, and private/corporate use where twin-engine redundancy is not required. For range, the H135, Bell 429, AW109 Grand New, and MD 902 generally offer similar mid-range mission capability, with the AW109 often competitive at higher cruise speeds, while the R66 typically has a shorter overall range than the light twins depending on configuration and reserves. For passenger capacity, the light twins commonly accommodate about six to eight occupants depending on interior and mission fit, whereas the R66 is smaller, usually seating around four to five total.