Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New
In category, the Airbus Helicopters H145 is a light twin-engine helicopter commonly positioned at the upper end of the “light” class, often used for EMS, law enforcement, and utility work with strong hot-and-high and payload performance. The Bell 429 GlobalRanger is also a light twin, typically optimized for passenger transport and corporate/EMS missions with a spacious cabin for its class. The Bell 505 JetRanger X is a light single-engine helicopter, generally aimed at training, private, and light utility roles with lower operating costs but less redundancy than twins. The Leonardo AW109 Grand New is a light twin with a strong emphasis on speed and VIP/corporate transport, usually regarded as one of the more “premium” offerings in the light-twin segment. On range, the AW109 Grand New and Bell 429 typically offer longer legs in many configurations than the Bell 505, while the H145 is competitive but often optimized around mission equipment and payload choices that can affect endurance. For passenger capacity, the H145 and Bell 429 commonly seat around seven to eight (layout dependent), the AW109 Grand New typically accommodates six to seven in executive layouts, and the Bell 505 is usually around four to five passengers plus pilot, depending on configuration.
| Spec | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | Bell 505 JetRanger X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 9.31 | $ 6.29 | $ 3.53 | $ 7.31 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H145 | 429 GlobalRanger | 505 JetRanger X | AW109 Grand New |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 352 | 365 | 306 | 464 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.93 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.91 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 6 | — | 6 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4200 | 2535 | 1500 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 441 | $ 1,140 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | Garmin G1000H | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 130 | 148 | 125 | 156 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $10,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $1,445,000 | $ 7,800,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 6 | — | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 | Arrius 2R | PW207C |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 894 | 1100 | 505 | 735 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | 32.3 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 84.85 | 152 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 44.8 | 43 | 42.48 | 42.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13 | 13.25 | 10.65 | 11.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 36 | 37 | 35.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 166 | 130 | 137 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 46.8 | 74 | 18 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | 6.51 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | 4.66 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | 2.75 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | 7.17 | — |