Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Bell 525 Relentless
The Airbus H225 and Bell 525 Relentless are large, long-range helicopters, while the Beechcraft King Air 360ER is a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft optimized for efficient regional transport. In category terms, the H225 is a heavy/“super‑medium” class rotorcraft widely used for offshore and utility missions; the Bell 525 is a modern fly‑by‑wire “super‑medium” helicopter aimed at similar offshore and executive roles; the King Air 360ER is a pressurized business/utility turboprop designed for runway‑to‑runway travel. For range, the King Air 360ER generally offers the longest legs among the three, benefiting from fixed‑wing efficiency on longer point‑to‑point trips. The H225 and Bell 525 provide substantial helicopter range for offshore operations, with the 525 typically positioned as having competitive or better range than many legacy super‑medium helicopters depending on configuration and reserves. For passenger capacity, the H225 is usually the highest, commonly configured to carry roughly 16–19 passengers in transport layouts. The Bell 525 typically carries fewer, often around 12–16 depending on interior and mission. The King Air 360ER is typically configured for about 6–11 passengers in executive seating, with flexibility for special missions.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | — |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 525 Relentless |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 580 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | — |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6675 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | — |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 160 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1800 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 641 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 61.58 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 18.18 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 54.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 |