Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Airbus H225 and MD Helicopters 902 Explorer are helicopters aimed at short- to medium-range missions with vertical-lift flexibility, while the Daher TBM 960 and Dassault Falcon 8X are fixed-wing aircraft optimized for longer point-to-point travel. The H225 is a large twin‑engine helicopter used for offshore transport, search and rescue, and utility work; it typically carries around 16–19 passengers and offers roughly 400–500 nautical miles of range depending on configuration. The MD 902 Explorer is a lighter twin‑engine helicopter suited to EMS, law enforcement, and corporate shuttle roles; it commonly seats about 7–8 passengers with a typical range around 300–400 nautical miles. The TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop airplane for business and owner-operators; it usually seats 4–6 passengers (up to about 7–8 seats installed) and has a range around 1,500–1,700 nautical miles. The Falcon 8X is an ultra‑long‑range trijet business jet, typically configured for about 12–16 passengers, with intercontinental range near 6,400–6,450 nautical miles.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | TBM 960 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1730 | 6450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 16 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 2908 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 14 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 744 | $ 3,805 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 330 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Galley Location | — | MID | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | 29200 |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | TBM 960 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 35.3 | 80.2 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | — | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 123 | 1695 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | 86.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 13.4 | 42.7 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |