Bell 525 Relentless vs Boeing Bbj Max 9 vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Leonardo Aw189
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are both twin‑engine helicopters suited to vertical-access missions, but they differ in size and reach. The Bell 525 is positioned as a modern super‑medium, typically carrying around 12–16 passengers in offshore/VIP layouts with an approximate range on the order of 500–600 nautical miles. The AW189 is a larger, heavier twin optimized for offshore and SAR, commonly configured for roughly 16–19 passengers and offering a similar ballpark range, often around 450–500 nautical miles depending on tanks and payload. The Daher TBM 960 is a single‑engine turboprop airplane in the high‑performance personal/business category. It typically seats 4–6 passengers plus a pilot, and it offers long cross‑country capability of roughly 1,400–1,700 nautical miles depending on reserves and speed. The Boeing BBJ MAX 9 is a long‑range corporate jetliner. In VIP configurations it usually carries a few dozen passengers (often around 25–50) and delivers intercontinental range, roughly 6,000+ nautical miles with auxiliary tanks, far exceeding the others.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Boeing BBJ MAX 9 | Daher TBM 960 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 12 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Boeing | Daher TBM | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | BBJ MAX 9 | TBM 960 | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6376 | 1730 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 35 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 77120 | 2908 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 470 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $107,700,000 | $4,450,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.74 | $ 2.25 | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 1.97 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 7,396 | $ 744 | $ 2,413 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 35 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 | 19 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9 | 6.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 | 14390 | — |
| Lavatory | — | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | MID | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | LEAP-1B | TBM 960 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 850 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 15 | ISA + 49 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 28000 | — | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 138.4 | 35.3 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 11.6 | 4 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 7.1 | 4.1 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 107.2 | 13.4 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 40.3 | — | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 1485 | — | 85 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 117.9 | 42.1 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 10.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 100.6 | — | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | 395 |