Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Airbus H225 is a heavy, long-range twin‑engine helicopter optimized for offshore transport and SAR, typically carrying around 19 passengers (depending on seating and mission fit) with a practical range on the order of roughly 500–700 nautical miles. The Bell 525 Relentless is a modern super‑medium twin helicopter aimed at offshore and corporate/VIP roles, generally seating up to about 16–20, with a similar ballpark range (about 500–600+ nautical miles) depending on payload and reserves. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, three‑engine business jet rather than a helicopter; it’s built for intercontinental travel, commonly configured for about 12–16 passengers, and can fly roughly 6,000+ nautical miles—an order of magnitude more range than the rotorcraft. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a light twin helicopter for EMS, law enforcement, and utility work; it typically carries about 6–8 passengers and has a shorter range, roughly 250–350 nautical miles. Overall, the Falcon 8X dominates range, the H225 and 525 lead helicopter capacity and offshore suitability, and the MD 902 trades capacity and range for agility and lower operating scale.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | — | $ 7.66 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 525 Relentless | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 580 | 6450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | — | $ 0.64 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6675 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 14 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | — | $ 3,805 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 160 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1800 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 61.58 | 80.2 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 18.18 | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 54.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 1695 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | 42.7 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 86.3 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |