Bell 525 Relentless vs Boeing Bbj Max 9 vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are medium helicopters suited to vertical-access missions, while the Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet with short/rough-field flexibility, and the Boeing BBJ MAX 9 is a large VIP airliner for long-haul executive transport. In range, the BBJ MAX 9 is by far the longest-legged, typically around 6,000+ nautical miles depending on configuration, enabling intercontinental nonstop flights. The PC-24 sits in the middle at roughly 2,000 nautical miles, appropriate for regional-to-transcontinental legs with a small-jet footprint. The AW189 and Bell 525 have much shorter ranges typical of helicopters, generally on the order of a few hundred nautical miles, with the 525 usually positioned toward the higher end of the medium-twin class. Passenger capacity follows the same pattern: BBJ MAX 9 can be configured for dozens (often 25–50+ in VIP layouts, far more in airline density), the PC-24 typically carries about 6–10 passengers, and the AW189 and Bell 525 commonly seat around 12–16 depending on layout and mission equipment.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Boeing BBJ MAX 9 | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 12 | 21 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Boeing | Leonardo | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | BBJ MAX 9 | AW189 | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6376 | 651 | 2076 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 35 | 19 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 77120 | — | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell | EFIS | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 470 | 155 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $107,700,000 | $2,413,000 | $11,800,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.74 | $ 15.57 | $ 3.71 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 1.97 | $ 0.74 | $ 0.62 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 7,396 | $ 2,413 | $ 1,619 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 21 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 35 | 19 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 19 | 6 |
| Configuration | — | Green Interior | — | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9 | — | 9.3 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 24000 | — | 23500 |
| Lavatory | — | — | — | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | — | No |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | — | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | — | FWD |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | LEAP-1B | CT7-2E1 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition | 4000 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 1983 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 15 | — | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 28000 | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 138.4 | 57.8 | 52.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 11.6 | — | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 7.1 | — | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 107.2 | — | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 40.3 | 16.6 | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | 48 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 1485 | 85 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 117.9 | — | 55.8 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | Flat Floor | — | Flat Floor |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 10.7 | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 100.6 | — | 17 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 395 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | — | 90 |