Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Enstrom 480b
The Airbus H225 and Bell 525 Relentless sit in the large, long-range helicopter category, typically used for offshore, SAR, and high-end corporate or government missions. Both can carry roughly around 16–19 passengers in high-density layouts, but the H225 is a proven heavy-lift workhorse while the 525 targets similar missions with modern avionics and efficiency. In range terms, both are broadly in the “several-hundred–nautical-mile” class, with typical mission ranges often around the 500–600 nm neighborhood depending on configuration and reserves. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing utility aircraft rather than a helicopter. It generally offers longer point-to-point range than rotorcraft and commonly seats up to about 9 passengers (or more in special commuter configurations), making it a high-value choice for regional transport, cargo, and rough-field work. The Enstrom 480B is a light single‑engine helicopter suited to training, patrol, and personal/utility flying. It carries about 4–5 occupants and has the shortest range of the group, optimized for shorter missions rather than long-haul transport.
| 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 |