Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Bombardier Global 5500 vs Bombardier Global 6500 vs Bombardier Global 7500 vs Bombardier Global 8000 vs Leonardo Aw609 Tiltrotor
Airbus Helicopters’ H160 and Bell’s 525 Relentless are medium twin-engine helicopters aimed at short-to-medium regional missions; they typically carry around 10–16 passengers depending on layout, with ranges roughly in the 450–650 nautical mile class, making them well suited to offshore, EMS, and corporate shuttle work. Leonardo’s AW609 is a tiltrotor, blending helicopter-like vertical takeoff with airplane-like cruise; it generally carries about 6–9 passengers and offers longer point-to-point reach than most conventional helicopters, around the 700+ nautical mile class. The Bombardier Global 5500, 6500, 7500, 8000 are long-range business jets. Passenger capacity is broadly similar across the family—commonly 8–16 in executive configurations—but they differentiate mainly by range. The Global 5500 is the “shortest” of this group at about 5,900 nm, the 6500 extends to about 6,600 nm, the 7500 to about 7,700 nm, the 8000 to about 8,000 nm, and the 8000-class flagship provides the longest intercontinental reach for nonstop city-pairs.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 525 Relentless | Bombardier Global 5500 | Bombardier Global 6500 | Bombardier Global 7500 | Bombardier Global 8000 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW609 Tiltrotor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 19 | — |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | — | — | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Bombardier | Bombardier | Bombardier | Bombardier | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | 525 Relentless | Global 5500 | Global 6500 | Global 7500 | Global 8000 | AW609 Tiltrotor |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | — |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 580 | 5900 | 6600 | 7700 | 8000 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | — |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | 6675 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | Bombardier Vision (Pro Line Fusion) | Bombardier Vision (Pro Line Fusion) | Bombardier Vision (Pro Line Fusion) | Enhanced and Synthetic Vision Systems | — |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 160 | 504 | 504 | 516 | 626.7 | — |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $46,000,000 | $56,000,000 | $75,000,000 | $78,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | — | $ 9.49 | $ 9.49 | $ 9.50 | $ 9.50 | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | — | $ 0.79 | $ 0.68 | $ 0.79 | $ 0.79 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | — | $ 4,895 | $ 4,895 | $ 4,900 | $ 4,900 | — |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | — | — | Business Jet | Business Jet | — |
| Max Passengers | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — |
| Cabin | |||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 19 | — |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | — |
| Lavatory | — | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT | FWD / AFT | FWD / AFT | FWD / AFT | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley | Galley | Galley | Galley | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | — | 4500 | 2,900 | — |
| Engine | |||||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Model | HE Arrano | CT7-2F1 | Pearl | Pearl | Passport | Passport | — |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | — | — | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | On-Condition | On-Condition | On-Condition | On-Condition | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Horsepower | — | 1800 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 641 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 15125 | 15125 | 18920 | 18920 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | — | — | ISA + 15 | ISA + 15 | — |
| Dimensions | |||||||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | 61.58 | 96 | 99.5 | 111 | 111 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 18.18 | 25.5 | 25.5 | 27 | 27 | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | 54.5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | 40.8 | 43.3 | 54.5 | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 94 | 94 | 104 | 104 | — |