Airbus Helicopters H160 vs Boeing Bbj 747 8 vs Leonardo Aw609 Tiltrotor vs Sikorsky S 76d
The Airbus Helicopters H160 and Sikorsky S‑76D are conventional twin‑engine helicopters aimed at regional corporate, EMS, and utility missions. The H160 typically carries about 8 to 12 passengers in a VIP layout and offers a practical range on the order of roughly 450 to 550 nautical miles, while the S‑76D is similar in role with around 6 to 8 passengers and a broadly comparable, often slightly shorter, range in typical configurations. The Leonardo AW609 is a tiltrotor, bridging helicopter and fixed‑wing performance. It generally seats about 6 to 9 passengers and trades some cabin volume for higher cruise speed and longer legs, with typical range figures around 750 to 850 nautical miles. The Boeing BBJ 747‑8 is a long‑range widebody business jet (VIP airliner). It is in a different category entirely, offering intercontinental range of roughly 7,700 to 8,000 nautical miles and capacity that can vary widely by interior fit, commonly around 25 to 100+ passengers, with far greater space and endurance than the rotorcraft options.
| Spec | AIRBUS H160 | Boeing BBJ 747-8 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW609 Tiltrotor | Sikorsky S-76D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | 100 | — | 12 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Boeing | Leonardo | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H160 | BBJ 747-8 | AW609 Tiltrotor | S-76D |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | — | — | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 460 | 9260 | — | 441 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | — | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | — | — | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 3992 | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | — | — | 10 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | — | — | Thales TopDeck |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 155 | 490 | — | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $14,000,000 | $567,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $14,900,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Business Jet | — | — |
| DOC / nm | — | — | — | $ 11.49 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | — | — | $ 0.96 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | — | — | $ 1,781 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Total Seats | 14 | — | — | 12 |
| Configuration | Green Interior | — | — | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | — | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 12 | — | — | 10 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| Model | HE Arrano | — | — | PW210S |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | — | — | 4000 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | — | 1 |
| Horsepower | — | — | — | 1077 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | — | — | — | 296 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 39.4 | — | — | 52.5 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.1 | — | — | 14.5 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 45.2 | — | — | 44 |