Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Robinson R66
By category, the Airbus H225 and Robinson R66 are helicopters, but they sit at opposite ends of the market: the H225 is a heavy, twin‑engine transport helicopter used for offshore, SAR, and utility missions, while the R66 is a light, single‑engine turbine helicopter aimed at owner‑operators and training. The Bell 525 Relentless is a modern, fly‑by‑wire, super‑medium, twin‑engine helicopter positioned between them, oriented toward offshore and corporate transport. The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is not a helicopter at all; it is a twin‑turboprop, pressurized fixed‑wing aircraft optimized for efficient regional travel and special missions. In range, the King Air 360ER generally offers the longest legs in typical operations, reflecting fixed‑wing efficiency. The Bell 525 and Airbus H225 provide substantial helicopter range suited to offshore sectors and longer point‑to‑point rotorcraft missions, with the H225 often configured for endurance with auxiliary fuel depending on role. The Robinson R66 has the shortest range. For passenger capacity, the H225 typically carries the most, the Bell 525 follows with a large cabin for executive or offshore seating, the King Air 360ER carries a moderate cabin load, and the R66 carries the fewest (typically a pilot plus four passengers).
| 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 |