Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Robinson R66
The Airbus H225 and Bell 525 Relentless sit in the heavy/super‑medium offshore class, prioritizing long overwater range and high payload. The H225 is the larger of the two and typically carries around 16–19 passengers in an offshore layout, with long range on the order of roughly 450–500+ nm depending on tanks and mission equipment. The Bell 525 targets a similar mission set with about 16 passengers typical and comparable long‑range capability, often cited in the same ~450–560 nm bracket depending on configuration. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a light twin, usually configured for about 6–8 passengers (often 1–2 crew plus passengers), with a notably shorter range than the offshore machines, commonly around ~250–350 nm depending on payload and reserves. The Robinson R66 is a light single, generally 4 passengers plus a pilot (5 seats total), optimized for cost and simplicity rather than endurance; its practical range is typically in the ~300–350 nm neighborhood, varying strongly with load, fuel, and power margins.
| 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 |