Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Sikorsky S 92
The Bell 525 Relentless and Sikorsky S‑92 are twin‑engine helicopters, while the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX and Daher TBM 960 are fixed‑wing turboprops (the Caravan is a utility/commuter single, the TBM is a high‑performance single‑engine business aircraft). In range, the TBM 960 is generally the longest‑legged of the four, commonly used for trips on the order of roughly 1,000+ nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. The Grand Caravan EX typically offers midrange capability suited to regional sectors, often several hundred to around ~900 nautical miles depending on configuration. The Bell 525 is a long‑range helicopter for its class, broadly comparable to or somewhat above many utility helicopters, typically in the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile range. The S‑92 is a larger offshore/transport helicopter with long‑range mission profiles, also generally in the several‑hundred‑nautical‑mile range, often competitive with or exceeding smaller helicopters depending on fit. For passenger capacity, the TBM 960 is usually 4–6 passengers, the Grand Caravan EX commonly seats around 9–14, the Bell 525 is typically configured around 10–16, and the S‑92 is the largest, often around 19 passengers.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Daher TBM 960 | Sikorsky S-92 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Daher TBM | Sikorsky |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | TBM 960 | S-92 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1730 | 439 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 2908 | 7417 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Garmin G3000 | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 330 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $4,450,000 | $30,650,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 2.25 | $ 19.79 |
| Aircraft Type | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.56 | $ 0.94 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 744 | $ 3,068 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 6 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | — | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| Lavatory | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | MID | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 6.2 | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 14390 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | TBM 960 | CT7-8A |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 3500 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 850 | 2520 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | — | 1 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | 760 |
| 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 | — | 17.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — | 140 |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 42.1 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 123 | 775 |