Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Robinson R66
The Airbus H225 and Bell 525 Relentless sit in the “super-medium” class, aimed at offshore, search and rescue, and high-utilization corporate or government missions, while the Robinson R66 is a light single-engine turbine helicopter oriented toward private, training, and light utility roles. In range, the H225 and Bell 525 are broadly comparable and typically far exceed the R66; both super-medium types are designed for longer overwater or extended operations with greater fuel and payload flexibility, whereas the R66 is better suited to shorter regional legs. In passenger capacity, the H225 generally offers the highest seating potential in typical configurations, the Bell 525 is close behind with a spacious cabin optimized for passenger comfort and mission equipment, and the R66 carries substantially fewer occupants, commonly around four passengers plus a pilot depending on configuration and weight. Overall, the H225 and 525 compete directly for long-range, higher-capacity missions, while the R66 fills a lower-cost, lower-capacity niche.
| 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 |