Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Robinson R66
The Airbus H225 is a large, twin‑engine helicopter designed for offshore transport and utility missions; it typically carries around 19 passengers and offers long helicopter legs on the order of roughly 400–500 nautical miles depending on fit and reserves. The Robinson R66 is a light, single‑engine helicopter aimed at private and light commercial use; it generally seats 4–5 occupants and has a much shorter range, roughly about 300 nautical miles. Among the fixed‑wing aircraft, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility airplane optimized for rugged, short‑field operations and cargo/passenger hauling; it commonly seats 9–14 passengers (often 9 in commuter configuration) and typically flies around 900–1,000 nautical miles with typical reserves depending on load. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop business aircraft focused on speed and efficiency rather than volume; it usually carries 4–6 passengers (up to 7–9 including crew and occasional seating) and has the longest range of this group, roughly about 1,400–1,700 nautical miles depending on conditions and configuration.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Daher TBM 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 2.25 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Daher TBM |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | TBM 960 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1730 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.56 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 2908 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 744 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 330 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $4,450,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | TBM 960 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 35.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 123 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 13.4 |