Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Sikorsky S 92
The Airbus H225 and Sikorsky S‑92 are heavy twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, SAR, and utility roles; both typically carry around 19 passengers in high‑density seating, with practical ranges roughly in the 450–550 nautical mile class depending on payload and reserves. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a much smaller twin‑engine light helicopter used for EMS, law enforcement, and corporate missions; it generally seats about 7–8 passengers and offers a shorter range, commonly around 250–350 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 8X is in a different category entirely: a long‑range, three‑engine business jet designed for intercontinental travel. It typically carries 8–14 passengers in an executive cabin (with higher maximum seating possible in dense configurations) and has a range on the order of 6,000+ nautical miles. In short, the Falcon 8X dominates range and cruise speed for point‑to‑point travel, while the H225 and S‑92 prioritize vertical lift with similar high passenger capacity, and the 902 Explorer trades capacity and range for smaller size and lower operating footprint.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Dassault Falcon 8X | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 7.66 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Dassault Falcon | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | 8X | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 6450 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 36900 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 14 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 3,805 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 516 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 17 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 14 | 19 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PW307D | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | — | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | — | 760 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 80.2 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 26.1 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 1695 | 775 |
| 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 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |