Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Piaggio Avanti Evo
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter suited to point-to-point access where runways aren’t available. Its typical range is roughly 560–680 nautical miles, and it generally carries about 12–16 passengers depending on configuration. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft optimized for short, rugged strips; it offers about 900–1,000 nautical miles of range and typically seats up to 9 passengers in commuter/executive layouts (higher in utility configurations). The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet designed for faster, higher-altitude travel between major airports; it delivers around 1,800–2,100 nautical miles of range and commonly carries 8–9 passengers in an executive cabin. The Piaggio Avanti EVO is a high-speed twin‑turboprop positioned between turboprops and light jets; it typically offers about 1,400–1,700 nautical miles of range with a usual capacity of 7–9 passengers. Overall, the helicopter prioritizes access, the Caravan payload/strip flexibility, the XLS+ speed and jet range, and the Avanti EVO efficient high-speed turboprop performance.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Piaggio Avanti EVO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Piaggio |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | Avanti EVO |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 1530 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 3775 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 400 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $ 7,695,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | — |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | — |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 9 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | No |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 24000 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 6600 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | PT6A–66B |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 3600 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 28 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | — | — | 100 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 47.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | 14.9 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | 13.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 47.1 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | 35.2 |