Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer vs Piper M600 Sls vs Sikorsky S 92
The Airbus H225 and Sikorsky S-92 are heavy twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore transport, SAR, and utility work, typically carrying around 16–19 passengers in airline-style seating (more in high-density layouts) and offering practical ranges roughly in the 450–600 nautical mile class depending on payload and tanks. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a much lighter twin‑engine helicopter for EMS, law enforcement, and corporate missions; it generally seats about 6–8 passengers (configuration dependent) and has a shorter typical range, roughly around 300–400 nautical miles. The Piper M600 SLS is not a helicopter but a single‑engine turboprop airplane optimized for owner‑pilot and business travel; it typically seats about 5–6 occupants and usually offers the longest range of this group, on the order of about 1,000–1,400 nautical miles depending on reserves and cruise profile. In short, H225 and S‑92 prioritize lift and cabin volume, the 902 prioritizes agility and lower operating footprint, and the M600 SLS prioritizes speed and long-range point‑to‑point travel from runways.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 | Piper M600 SLS | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 | $ 2.19 | $ 19.79 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters | Piper | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | H225 | M600 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 | 1406 | 439 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 | $ 0.55 | $ 0.94 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 | 2200 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 | $ 603 | $ 3,068 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 | 274 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 | $3,081,400 | $30,650,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 | 5 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 5.6 | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Refreshment Centre | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 12600 | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 8644 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Yes | No | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 | PT6A-42A | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 | 3600 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 2100 | 600 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 | 260 | 760 |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 55 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 63.4 | 29.7 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 | 11.3 | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 | 165 | 775 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 43.2 | — |
| Cabin Width (ft) | — | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | — | 4 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | — | 12.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 20 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |