Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 429wlg Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw169
By category, the Airbus Helicopters H160 and Leonardo AW169 sit in the intermediate twin segment, aimed at offshore, EMS, and corporate missions with higher payload and cabin volume than light twins. The Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger and Leonardo AW109 Grand New are light twin helicopters, typically optimized for faster point-to-point corporate transport, public safety, and EMS with smaller cabins and lower maximum payload than the intermediate class. On range, the H160 and AW169 generally offer the longest legs in typical configurations, benefiting from larger fuel capacity and more efficient cruise profiles for medium-distance missions. The Bell 429WLG is usually mid-pack, well suited to regional hops. The AW109 Grand New often delivers strong cruise speed but, depending on fit and reserves, tends to have a somewhat shorter practical range than the intermediate twins. On passenger capacity, the H160 and AW169 typically support higher practical seating, commonly around 8 to 10 passengers in passenger-transport layouts (with mission kits affecting totals), while the Bell 429WLG and AW109 Grand New more often seat about 6 to 7 passengers in executive-style configurations.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 429WLG GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW169 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | VFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | 429WLG GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | AW169 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 381 | 464 | 440 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | 2528 | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 154 | 156 | 140 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,000,000 | $7,700,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $9,450,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 6.05 | $ 7.31 | $ 11.84 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.76 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.99 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,658 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | HE Arrano | PW207D1 | PW207C | PW210A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Horsepower | — | 1100 | 735 | 1000 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | 76 | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 216.9 | 152 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | 43 | 42.5 | 48.1 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 12.39 | 11.5 | 14.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | 36 | 35.5 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 26.37 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 6.58 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 130 | — | 222.5 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 74 | — | 49.5 |