Bell 505 Jetranger X vs Enstrom Helicopter 480b G vs Md Helicopters Md 500e vs Robinson Helicopters R22 Beta Ii vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven I vs Robinson Helicopters R66
The Bell 505 JetRanger X, Enstrom 480B-G, MD Helicopters MD 500E, and Robinson R66 generally sit in the light turbine category, while the Robinson R22 Beta II and Robinson R44 Raven I are light piston helicopters. In practical terms, the R22 is the smallest, most often used for training and very light utility work, typically carrying a pilot plus one passenger. The R44 steps up to a four-seat piston platform, commonly used for personal transport and light commercial missions. The Bell 505, Enstrom 480B-G, and MD 500E are light single-engine turbines; they are typically configured for about four to five occupants depending on layout and weight, with the MD 500E often optimized for higher-performance utility roles rather than maximizing cabin volume. The Robinson R66 is also a light single-turbine but usually offers a larger cabin and is commonly arranged for up to five seats. For range, the R22 is generally the shortest, the R44 and many light turbines cluster in the mid range, and the R66 often lands toward the higher end among these due to fuel and mission fit.
| Spec | Bell 505 JetRanger X | Enstrom Helicopter 480B-G | MD Helicopters MD 500E | ROBINSON R22 Beta II | ROBINSON R44 Raven I | ROBINSON R66 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 3.53 | $ 2.83 | $ 2.95 | $ 1.80 | $ 2.30 | $ 3.49 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Enstrom Helicopter | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | 505 JetRanger X | 480B-G | MD 500E | R22 Beta II | R44 Raven I | R66 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 306 | 370 | 258 | 250 | 300 | 350 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.71 | $ 0.71 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.90 | $ 0.57 | $ 0.70 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 1500 | 1180 | 1483 | 490 | 950 | 1355 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 441 | $ 326 | $ 398 | $ 173 | $ 248 | $ 384 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G1000H | Garmin G1000H | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 125 | 115 | 135 | 96 | 108 | 110 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $1,445,000 | $ 1,425,000 | $ 2,750,000 | $ 312,000 | $ 412,000 | $ 920,000 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Cabin | ||||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Total Seats | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 |
| Max Cabin Seats | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Engine | ||||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | No | No | No | No | No |
| Model | Arrius 2R | 250-C20W | 250-C20B | O-360 | O-540 | RR300 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | JetFuel | AvGas | AvGas | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 2000 | 3500 | 2000 | 2200 | 2000 |
| Horsepower | 505 | 305 | 420 | 131 | 225 | 300 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | 32.3 | — | 35 | — | — | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 84.85 | 90 | 64 | 115 | 29.5 | 73.6 |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | — |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | — | Carbureted | Carbureted | — |
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Width (ft) | 6.51 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 42.48 | 29.9 | 30.9 | 28.5 | 38.3 | 38.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 4.66 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 2.75 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 7.17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 10.65 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 11.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 37 | 32 | 26.4 | 25.2 | 33 | 33 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 137 | — | — | — | — | 50 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 18 | 22 | — | — | — | 18 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 1.5 | 2.5 | — |