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Airbus Helicopters H175 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw609 Tiltrotor

The Airbus Helicopters H175 and Bell 525 Relentless are both conventional medium/“super‑medium” twin‑engine helicopters, while the Leonardo AW609 is a tiltrotor that transitions from helicopter-like vertical takeoff and landing to airplane-like wingborne cruise, placing it in a different operational category focused on higher speed and longer point-to-point legs. In range terms, the H175 and Bell 525 are broadly comparable for typical offshore and utility missions, with the 525 generally positioned with slightly longer-range capability depending on configuration, whereas the AW609 is designed to deliver substantially greater range than most similarly sized helicopters because it cruises more like a turboprop airplane. For passenger capacity, the H175 and Bell 525 are typically configured around the mid-teens, with layouts commonly in the 16–19 passenger class depending on mission fit, while the AW609 is smaller in cabin volume and is usually configured for roughly 6–9 passengers. Overall, H175 and 525 compete most directly with each other, while the AW609 trades cabin capacity for speed and extended reach.

SpecAIRBUS H175Bell 525 RelentlessAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW609 Tiltrotor
Summary
Cockpit22
DOC / nm$ 13.53
Min Crew22
Total Seats1818
Flight RulesIFRIFR
ManufacturerAirbus HelicoptersBellLeonardo
Aircraft NameH175525 RelentlessAW609 Tiltrotor
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)573580
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.75
Max Cabin Seats1816
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedVERIFIED
Useful Load (lbs)67976675
Standard Cabin Seats1616
Direct Operating Cost$ 2,016
Flight Deck (Base Spec)EFISGarmin G5000H
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)149160
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$17,900,000$15,000,000$20,000,000
Cabin
Cockpit22
Min Crew22
Total Seats1818
Max Cabin Seats1816
Standard Cabin Seats1616
Engine
FADECYesDual-Channel
ModelPT6A-67ECT7-2F1
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)35004000
Horsepower17751800
No. of Engines22
Fuel Capacity (gal)641
Dimensions
Length (ft)59.261.58
Overall Height (ft)17.518.18
Rotor Diameter (ft)48.554.5
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)423.8
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)81.9128
Width (ft)25.77
Cabin Width (ft)7.58
Cabin Height (ft)4.5
Cabin Length (ft)15.5