Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and parapublic missions, offering vertical takeoff/landing flexibility and a typical range on the order of roughly 500–600 nautical miles, depending on payload and reserves. It generally carries around 16 passengers in an offshore-style configuration, though layouts vary. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility airplane optimized for short/rough fields and high payload flexibility. It typically seats about 9–14 passengers (commuter layouts vary by operator and regulations) and commonly delivers roughly 800–900 nautical miles of range, again dependent on load and fuel planning. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance, pressurized single‑engine turboprop business aircraft focused on speed and efficient point‑to‑point travel. It generally seats 4–6 passengers (up to about 7–8 including pilot and occasional seating) and offers about 1,200–1,700 nautical miles of range depending on power settings and reserves. In short, the Bell 525 emphasizes access and lift, the Caravan emphasizes utility and capacity, and the TBM 960 emphasizes range and fast executive travel.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.25 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.56 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 744 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | MID |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 35.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 13.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 |