Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H225 and Leonardo AW189 are medium twin‑engine helicopters optimized for vertical lift missions; they trade speed and range for the ability to land without runways and for strong payload flexibility. In category terms, both sit well above light helicopters, with the H225 generally positioned as the larger, higher‑gross‑weight platform. Typical operating range is on the order of roughly 400–500+ nautical miles depending on configuration and reserves, and cabin seating is commonly around 16–19 passengers, though layouts vary widely by mission. The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft in the utility/business turboprop category, offering long legs and runway performance. Its “ER” focus delivers substantially longer range than the helicopters—often around 1,500+ nautical miles—while passenger capacity is typically about 8–11. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop in the owner‑flown/business category. It prioritizes speed and efficiency with range typically around 1,000–1,500 nautical miles and seating generally 4–6 passengers (up to about 6–7 including pilot), making it the least passenger‑dense but very capable point‑to‑point option.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Daher TBM 960 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 2.25 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Daher TBM | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | TBM 960 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1730 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 2908 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 744 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | TBM 960 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 850 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 35.3 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | — | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 123 | 395 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 13.4 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 85 |