Beechcraft King Air 360 Er vs Bell 525 Relentless vs Leonardo Aw189
The Beechcraft King Air 360ER is a twin‑turboprop fixed‑wing aircraft optimized for efficient regional transport. In typical executive configuration it carries about 6–9 passengers, and its extended‑range capability is roughly 1,500–1,800 nautical miles depending on payload, reserves, and conditions, making it best for longer point‑to‑point trips between airports. The Bell 525 Relentless is a large, long‑range twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and special‑mission use. It commonly seats around 12–16 passengers in high‑density layouts (fewer in VIP), with range broadly around 500–600 nautical miles, trading speed and runway independence for shorter legs than a turboprop. The Leonardo (Agusta) AW189 is a heavy, twin‑engine helicopter widely used for offshore and SAR. Typical seating is about 12–16 passengers, and range is generally in the 450–550 nautical mile class, again varying by mission equipment and reserves. Overall, the King Air leads on range and airport‑to‑airport efficiency, while the 525 and AW189 prioritize vertical access and offshore capability with similar passenger capacity.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 |