Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piper M600 Sls
The Airbus H225 and Bell 525 Relentless are large, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore transport and high‑end utility roles; both typically carry around 16–19 passengers in airline-style seating, with the H225 generally offering longer real-world mission endurance and heavier-lift capability, while the 525 targets similar missions with modern avionics and comparable long-range performance. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a lighter twin‑engine helicopter optimized for law enforcement, EMS, and corporate shuttle work; it usually seats about 8–10 occupants including crew and has a notably shorter range than the H225 or 525, trading capacity and endurance for lower operating scale. The Piper M600 SLS is not a helicopter but a single‑engine turboprop airplane in the personal/business category; it typically carries 5–6 people and, unlike the rotorcraft, delivers substantially greater cruise range and speed for point‑to‑point travel, though it cannot hover or access confined landing sites. Overall, capacity ranks H225/525 highest, 902 mid, and M600 lowest, while range is typically greatest in the M600, then the big helicopters, then the 902.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Bell 525 Relentless | Piper M600 SLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | — | $ 2.19 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Bell | Piper |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 525 Relentless | M600 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 580 | 1406 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | — | $ 0.55 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 6675 | 2200 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | — | $ 603 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 160 | 274 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,000,000 | $3,081,400 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 18 | 5 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 16 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | — | 5.6 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Refreshment Centre |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 12600 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 8644 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Dual-Channel | No |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-2F1 | PT6A-42A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 1800 | 600 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 641 | 260 |
| Flat Rating | — | — | ISA + 55 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 61.58 | 29.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 18.18 | 11.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | 54.5 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 165 |
| Width (ft) | — | 25.77 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.58 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.5 | 4 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 15.5 | 12.3 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | — | 43.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 20 |