Bell 407gxi vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Leonardo Sh09 vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Robinson Helicopters R66 vs Sikorsky S 76d

The MD Helicopters MD 500E and Robinson R66 sit in the light single‑engine category, typically carrying a pilot plus about four passengers; they prioritize simplicity and short-to-moderate legs, with the R66 generally offering the longer practical range. The Bell 407GXi is also a light single, usually configured for one or two crew with up to five or six passengers, and is commonly used for utility and charter missions with moderate range. The MD 902 Explorer is a light twin, often seating one or two pilots with roughly six to seven passengers, trading higher redundancy and smoother IFR capability for range that is generally comparable to other light twins. Moving up, the Sikorsky S‑76D is a medium twin aimed at executive and offshore roles, typically accommodating two crew with about six to eight passengers and offering longer range and higher cruise performance. The Leonardo AW189 is a super‑medium twin designed for offshore and SAR, commonly carrying two crew with around 16–19 passengers and delivering the longest ranges of this group. The Leonardo SH09 is a modern light single concept, expected to seat around five occupants with mid‑class light‑single range.