Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Enstrom 480b vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Sikorsky S 92
The Airbus H225 and Sikorsky S-92 sit in the heavy, twin‑engine offshore/utility category. Both are designed for longer overwater legs and high payloads: typical passenger seating is roughly around 19, and their practical mission ranges are generally in the several-hundred–nautical‑mile class (often roughly 450–550 nm depending on fuel and configuration). The H225 is widely used for offshore transport and SAR, while the S-92 is similarly positioned with strong offshore and government/utility uptake. The MD Helicopters 902 Explorer is a light twin, often used for EMS, law enforcement, and corporate/utility roles. It carries far fewer passengers than the heavy twins—commonly about 6–8—and its range is shorter, typically a few hundred nautical miles. The Enstrom 480B is a light single‑engine utility helicopter oriented toward training, patrol, and general utility. It has the smallest cabin capacity here (typically about 4–5) and the shortest range of the group, generally on the order of a couple hundred nautical miles, varying with load and reserves.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 760 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 775 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | 140 |