Bell 525 Relentless vs Boeing Bbj Max 9 vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are helicopters, optimized for vertical lift, offshore/utility missions, and point-to-point access where runways aren’t available. Typical passenger seating is around 12–16 depending on configuration, with practical ranges generally in the 400–600 nautical mile class (missions often shorter due to reserves, payload, and weather). The Bell 525 is positioned as a higher-speed, longer-range “super-medium” helicopter relative to many peers, while the AW189 is a widely used medium twin with strong offshore credentials. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long-range business jet designed for intercontinental travel from conventional runways, typically carrying about 8–14 passengers in executive layouts and offering roughly 6,000+ nautical miles of range, enabling nonstop city pairs like New York–Dubai or Paris–Singapore (conditions permitting). The Boeing BBJ MAX 9 is a VIP airliner based on a narrowbody transport, intended for large-cabin, long-range travel with substantially more space than a bizjet. Passenger counts vary widely by interior (often a few dozen in VIP form), with range commonly cited around 6,000+ nautical miles, making it comparable in reach to top-tier long-range business jets but with a much larger cabin.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Boeing BBJ MAX 9 | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 12 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Boeing | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | BBJ MAX 9 | 8X | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6376 | 6450 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 35 | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 77120 | 36900 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 470 | 516 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $107,700,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.74 | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 1.97 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 7,396 | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 35 | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9 | 10.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 | 29200 | — |
| Lavatory | — | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing | — |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes | — |
| Galley Location | — | — | FWD | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT | — |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley | — |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 | — |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | LEAP-1B | PW307D | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | — | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 15 | ISA + 17 | — |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 28000 | 6722 | — |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 138.4 | 80.2 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 11.6 | 7.7 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 7.1 | 6.2 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 107.2 | 42.7 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 40.3 | 26.1 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 1485 | — | 85 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 117.9 | 86.3 | — |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 10.7 | 6.3 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 100.6 | 29.2 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 1695 | 395 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 | — |