AIR.ONE

Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna 208b Grand Caravan Ex vs Leonardo Aw189 vs Piper M600 Sls

The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are medium, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions; both prioritize vertical access and cabin volume over cruise efficiency. In typical use, their range is on the order of roughly 500–700 nautical miles depending on payload and reserves, and they generally seat around 16–19 passengers in high‑density layouts (fewer in executive configurations). The AW189 is widely deployed today, while the 525 is a newer design still progressing toward broader operational entry. The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX is a single‑engine turboprop utility airplane optimized for short, unimproved strips and cargo/passenger flexibility. It commonly carries about 9 passengers (plus crew) and offers longer legs than the helicopters, often roughly 800–1,000+ nautical miles depending on load. The Piper M600 SLS is a pressurized, single‑engine turboprop personal/business aircraft. It typically carries 5–6 passengers, cruises faster than the Caravan, and offers similar or somewhat greater range, often around 1,000+ nautical miles, trading rugged utility for speed and comfort.

SpecBell 525 RelentlessAGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189Piper M600 SLS
Summary
Cockpit222
Min Crew211
Total Seats18216
Flight RulesIFRIFRIFR
ManufacturerBellLeonardoPiper
Aircraft Name525 RelentlessAW189M600
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)5806511406
Max Cabin Seats1619
OEM VerificationVERIFIEDUn-VerifiedVERIFIED
Useful Load (lbs)66752200
Standard Cabin Seats16194
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Garmin G5000HEFISGarmin G3000
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)160155274
Base Aircraft Price (USD)$15,000,000$2,413,000$3,081,400
DOC / nm$ 15.57$ 2.19
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.74$ 0.55
Direct Operating Cost$ 2,413$ 603
Cabin
Cockpit222
Min Crew211
Total Seats18215
Max Cabin Seats1619
Standard Cabin Seats16194
LavatoryNo
Galley LocationMID
Cabin Pressure (psi)5.6
Galley / RefreshmentRefreshment Centre
SL Cabin Altitude (ft)12600
Max Cabin Altitude (ft)8644
Engine
FADECDual-ChannelYesNo
ModelCT7-2F1CT7-2E1PT6A-42A
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)400040003600
Horsepower18001983600
No. of Engines221
Fuel Capacity (gal)641260
Flat RatingISA + 55
Dimensions
Width (ft)25.77
Length (ft)61.5857.829.7
Cabin Width (ft)7.584.1
Cabin Height (ft)4.54
Cabin Length (ft)15.512.3
Overall Height (ft)18.1816.611.3
Rotor Diameter (ft)54.548
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)12885
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)395165
Wingspan (ft)43.2
Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft)20