Bell 429 Globalranger vs Leonardo Aw109 Grand New vs Leonardo Aw109 Trekker vs Leonardo Aw119kx
In category, the Bell 429 GlobalRanger is a light twin‑engine helicopter optimized for EMS, law enforcement, and corporate missions, while the Leonardo AW109 Grand New is also a light twin but positioned more toward fast, premium VIP/corporate transport. The Leonardo AW109 Trekker remains a light twin as well, tailored for utility work with skid gear and simpler, more rugged operating profiles than the wheeled, more executive‑leaning Grand New. The Leonardo AW119Kx differs most: it is a light single‑engine helicopter, typically chosen when lower operating cost, hot‑and‑high performance, and utility flexibility are priorities over twin‑engine redundancy. On range, these aircraft broadly sit in a similar light‑class envelope, but the AW109 variants and AW119Kx are often marketed with slightly longer typical range than the Bell 429 depending on fuel fit and mission profile, with real‑world range highly sensitive to payload, reserves, and cruise speed. On passenger capacity, the Bell 429 and AW109 models commonly seat around six to seven passengers plus pilots in typical corporate layouts, whereas the AW119Kx typically carries about six to seven total occupants depending on configuration and mission equipment.
| Spec | Bell 429 GlobalRanger | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Grand New | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW109 Trekker | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW119Kx |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 6.29 | $ 7.31 | $ 7.40 | $ 6.76 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo | Leonardo | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 429 GlobalRanger | AW109 Grand New | AW109 Trekker | AW119Kx |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 365 | 464 | 450 | 515 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.79 | $ 0.91 | $ 0.93 | $ 0.84 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2535 | — | — | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 931 | $ 1,140 | $ 1,125 | $ 885 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Bell BasiX-Pro | EFIS | Genesys Aerosystems | Garmin G1000H |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 148 | 156 | 152 | 131 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $7,500,000 | $ 7,800,000 | $6,950,000 | $3,850,000 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | PW207D1 | PW207C | PW207C | PT6B-37A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 | 4000 | 4500 |
| Horsepower | 1100 | 735 | 735 | 917 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | 76 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 216.9 | 152 | 152 | 160 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 26.37 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 43 | 42.5 | 42.5 | 42.5 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 5 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4 | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 6.58 | — | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 13.25 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.9 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 36 | 35.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 130 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 74 | — | — | — |