Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Airbus H225 is a heavy, twin‑engine helicopter suited to offshore and utility missions, trading speed for vertical lift; it typically carries around 16–19 passengers and has a practical range on the order of roughly 400–500 nautical miles, depending on payload and reserves. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a lighter twin helicopter optimized for urban/public service and short-haul work; it commonly seats about 7–8 passengers and offers a shorter range, roughly 300–350 nautical miles. Dassault’s Falcon 8X is a long‑range tri‑jet business aircraft built for intercontinental travel; it typically accommodates about 12–16 passengers and can fly roughly 6,000+ nautical miles, far exceeding the helicopters. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a “super versatile jet” positioned between light and midsize business jets; it generally carries about 6–10 passengers and offers medium range, around 2,000 nautical miles, with strong short/rough‑field capability compared with most jets.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Dassault Falcon 8X | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 7.66 | $ 3.71 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 17 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Dassault Falcon | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 8X | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 6450 | 2076 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.62 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 36900 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 14 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 3,805 | $ 1,619 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Honeywell Primus EASy II | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 516 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $11,800,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 17 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 14 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | No |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 10.2 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | Optional Refreshment Center |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 29200 | 23500 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW307D | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | On-Condition | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 | 3435 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 80.2 | 52.2 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 26.1 | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 1695 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 | 55.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 7.7 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 6.2 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 42.7 | 23 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 | 90 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | — | Flat Floor |