Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Enstrom 480b
The Airbus H225 is a large, twin‑engine helicopter designed for vertical lift missions such as offshore transport and search‑and‑rescue. In category terms it sits in the heavy rotorcraft class, trading speed and altitude for hover capability and access to confined landing sites. Its range is moderate for aviation overall but strong for a helicopter, typically on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. Passenger capacity is relatively high for rotorcraft, commonly around the high‑teens to low‑20s in transport seating. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, three‑engine business jet optimized for intercontinental point‑to‑point travel. It offers by far the greatest range of the three, roughly 6,000+ nautical miles class, and carries a typical business‑jet cabin load of about 8–14 passengers, with maximum seating higher in dense layouts. The Enstrom 480B is a light, single‑engine helicopter aimed at utility and training roles. It is the smallest category here, with the shortest range (generally a few hundred nautical miles) and the lowest passenger capacity, typically 4–5 seats including the pilot.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 7.66 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 6450 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.64 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 14 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 3,805 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 80.2 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 1695 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 42.7 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 |