Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER and Daher TBM 960 are fixed‑wing turboprops, while the Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are twin‑engine helicopters. In category terms, the King Air 360ER is a twin‑engine utility/business turboprop suited to multi‑passenger regional missions, whereas the TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine business turboprop optimized for owner‑pilot speed and efficiency. The Bell 525 is a modern “super‑medium” helicopter aimed at offshore and corporate transport, while the AW189 is a larger “super‑medium”/heavy‑leaning offshore and SAR‑capable helicopter emphasizing payload and cabin volume. For range, the King Air 360ER is the longest‑legged of the group, roughly around the 1,500–1,800 nm class depending on configuration. The TBM 960 is also long‑range for its class, roughly around the 1,300–1,700 nm class. The helicopters trade range for vertical access: the Bell 525 is typically around the 500–700 nm class, and the AW189 is broadly similar, often around the 450–650 nm class depending on tanks and payload. Passenger capacity generally runs highest in the helicopters and King Air: King Air 360ER commonly carries about 6–9, TBM 960 about 4–6, and both Bell 525 and AW189 typically about 12–16 depending on interior.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.25 | $ 15.57 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 744 | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 35.3 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 13.4 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | — | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | 85 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 395 |