Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189
The Airbus H225 and Agusta/Leonardo AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters optimized for vertical access, offshore transport, and rescue-style missions rather than long nonstop cruise. In category, they sit well apart from the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Dassault Falcon 8X, which are fixed‑wing business jets designed for fast, high‑altitude point‑to‑point travel. For range, the Falcon 8X is the clear leader, capable of true intercontinental legs (roughly 6,400 nm class), while the Citation XLS+ is a midsize jet suited to regional and transcontinental trips (about 2,100 nm class). The H225 and AW189 have much shorter ranges than the jets (generally a few hundred nautical miles, mission and payload dependent), reflecting helicopter speed and fuel constraints. In passenger capacity, the Falcon 8X typically seats around 12–16 in executive layout, the Citation XLS+ usually about 7–9, while the AW189 and H225 can be configured for higher headcounts than most business jets, commonly around the mid‑teens to near twenty depending on cabin fit and mission equipment.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 5.34 | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Cessna Citation | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | XLS+ | 8X | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1906 | 6450 | 651 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.67 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7540 | 36900 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 2,303 | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 430 | 516 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $15,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 10 | 17 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 9 | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — |
| Crew Rest | — | No | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | FWD / AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 10.2 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | Galley | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 29200 | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW545C | PW307D | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 5000 | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | — | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 17 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | 6722 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 52.5 | 80.2 | 57.8 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.2 | 26.1 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — | 48 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | — | 1695 | 395 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 86.3 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 5.5 | 7.7 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 5.7 | 6.2 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 18.5 | 42.7 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | 6.3 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | 29.2 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 80 | — | 85 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | 140 | — |