Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Gulfstream G280 vs Leonardo Aw139 vs Sikorsky S 76d
The Airbus Helicopters H160 and Sikorsky S-76D are midsize twin helicopters typically used for offshore, EMS, and corporate missions, carrying roughly 10–12 passengers with practical ranges in the mid-hundreds of nautical miles, depending on cabin fit and reserves. Leonardo’s AW139 is a larger, higher-lift twin that commonly seats about 12–15 and is often chosen when payload and cabin volume matter more than maximizing range; its typical range is also in the several-hundred–nautical-mile class. Bell’s 525 Relentless sits above these as a super-midsize/heavy-class twin with a larger cabin and higher capacity, often configured around 16 passengers, and it targets longer legs than most midsize twins, generally approaching the upper end of helicopter ranges. The Gulfstream G280 is the outlier because it is a super-midsize business jet rather than a helicopter; it usually carries about 8–10 passengers and delivers intercontinental-style performance compared with rotorcraft, with published range around 3,600 nautical miles.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | Bell 525 Relentless | Gulfstream G280 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW139 | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 10 | 17 | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Gulfstream | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | 525 Relentless | G280 | AW139 | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 580 | 3600 | 573 | 441 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | 6675 | 15550 | 4701 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 8 | 15 | 10 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | Gulfstream PlaneView (Pro Line Fusion) | EFIS | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 160 | 481 | 165 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $24,900,000 | $15,900,000 | $14,900,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | — | $ 6.57 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.49 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | — | $ 0.82 | $ 0.69 | $ 0.96 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | — | $ 3,168 | $ 1,929 | $ 1,781 |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 18 | 10 | 17 | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | 16 | 8 | 15 | 10 |
| Lavatory | — | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | — | — |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | — | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | No | — | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | FWD | — | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | AFT | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 9.2 | — | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley | — | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 25000 | — | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 5800 | — | — |
| Engine | |||||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | HE Arrano | CT7-2F1 | HTF7250G | PT6C-67C | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | On-Condition | 5000 | 4000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Horsepower | — | 1800 | — | 1679 | 1077 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | 641 | — | 414 | 296 |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 17 | — | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 7624 | — | — |
| Dimensions | |||||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | 61.58 | 66.9 | 54.7 | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | 18.18 | 21.4 | 16.4 | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | 54.5 | — | 54.7 | 44 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | 6.9 | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | 6.3 | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | 25.9 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | — | 120 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 63 | — | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | 0.3 | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 5.4 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 17.7 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 154 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 282 | — |