Airbus Helicopters H145 vs Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw169
Airbus Helicopters’ H145, Bell’s 429 GlobalRanger, and Leonardo’s AW169 all sit in the light twin‑engine helicopter category, but they target slightly different missions. The H145 is commonly positioned as a light twin for EMS, police, utility, and corporate work, emphasizing a compact footprint and efficient short‑to‑medium legs; its typical practical range is in the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles, often around the 300 nm class depending on fuel and payload. The Bell 429 is also a light twin oriented to corporate and public‑service roles, with a broadly similar short‑to‑medium range profile, commonly in the roughly 300–400 nm class. The AW169 is frequently described as a larger, “super‑light”/intermediate‑leaning twin, generally offering longer legs than the other two, often around the 400 nm class or more with appropriate configuration. In passenger capacity, the H145 and Bell 429 typically accommodate about 6–7 passengers in corporate layouts (with variants for mission equipment), while the AW169 generally supports more seats, often around 8–10 passengers, reflecting its larger cabin. Actual range and seating vary significantly with interior, reserves, payload, and optional fuel.
| Spec | AIRBUS H145 | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 9.31 | $ 6.29 | $ 11.84 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H145 | 429 GlobalRanger | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 352 | 365 | 440 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.93 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.99 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 4200 | 2535 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 10 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 1,210 | $ 931 | $ 1,658 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 130 | 148 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $10,200,000 | $7,500,000 | $9,450,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 10 | 8 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 9 | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 8 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Arriel 2E | PW207D1 | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 894 | 1100 | 1000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 44.8 | 43 | 48.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13 | 13.25 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36.1 | 36 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 166 | 130 | 222.5 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 46.8 | 74 | 49.5 |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — |