Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Bell 525 Relentless is a twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions. It typically carries around 16 passengers in a high‑density layout (fewer in executive configuration) and offers a range on the order of roughly 500–600 nautical miles, prioritizing vertical access over long cruise legs. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility aircraft optimized for rugged, short‑field hauling. It commonly seats up to 9 passengers (or more in commuter variants) and delivers roughly 900–1,000 nautical miles of range depending on payload and conditions. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop for fast owner‑flown or corporate travel. It typically seats 4–6 passengers in executive use (up to about 6–7 maximum) with range around 1,400–1,700 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, trijet business jet, usually configured for about 12–16 passengers, and provides intercontinental range of roughly 6,000+ nautical miles.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 | 6450 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 14 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 744 | $ 3,805 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Galley Location | — | MID | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | 29200 |
| Crew Rest | — | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | — | Yes |
| Lavatory Location | — | — | FWD / AFT |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | — | Galley |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 35.3 | 80.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 4 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 13.4 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | — | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | 86.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 1695 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 140 |