Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Enstrom 480b vs Leonardo Aw189
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are large, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions. Both sit in the same general category, with similar long-range capability for a helicopter and high passenger counts; the AW189 is commonly configured for roughly the mid‑teens in seats, while the 525 is typically in a similar bracket depending on interior and mission kit. The Enstrom 480B is a much smaller single‑engine helicopter, suited to training, patrol, and light utility work; it carries only a few passengers and has materially shorter range than the two larger twins. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is not a helicopter but a single‑engine turboprop fixed‑wing utility aircraft; as a category it trades vertical lift for higher cruise efficiency, generally offering longer range than comparable helicopters and a higher practical passenger load, often up to around 9 passengers in typical commuter configurations. Overall, the 525 and AW189 are the heavy-lift people movers in the helicopter set, the 480B is a light helicopter for small parties, and the 208B is the range-and-capacity workhorse if runways are available.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 19 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 57.8 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | — |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | — |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | — |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 85 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | 395 |