Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter suited to vertical-lift missions where runways are unavailable; it typically carries around 12–16 passengers in an offshore-style configuration and offers a practical range on the order of roughly 500–600 nautical miles depending on payload and reserves. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility airplane optimized for short, unimproved runways and rugged regional service; it commonly seats about 9–14 passengers (often 9 in commuter layouts) and can reach roughly 900–1,000 nautical miles with typical loads. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, tri‑jet business aircraft designed for high-speed intercontinental travel; it usually accommodates about 12–16 passengers in executive cabins and has a published range around 6,450 nautical miles, enabling nonstop city pairs far beyond the other two. In short, the 525 prioritizes access and hovering, the Caravan prioritizes simplicity and short-field utility, and the Falcon 8X prioritizes speed, comfort, and very long range.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 6450 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 7.66 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.64 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 3,805 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 3900 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 80.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 86.3 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 1695 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 140 |