Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and utility missions. Its range is typically in the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles (roughly around 500 nm class, depending on reserves and configuration) and it generally carries about 10–16 passengers, trading speed and range for vertical access and point‑to‑point flexibility. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet designed for short‑to‑medium trips, commonly around the ~2,000 nm range class, with seating typically for about 7–9 passengers in standard corporate layouts, emphasizing runway flexibility and efficient regional flying. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop, usually in the ~1,500 nm range class, with capacity commonly 4–6 passengers plus a pilot, offering jet‑like efficiency on shorter runways at lower operating cost. The Dassault Falcon 8X is an ultra‑long‑range tri‑jet, around the ~6,000+ nm range class, typically accommodating about 12–16 passengers, optimized for intercontinental missions, cabin comfort, and payload‑range flexibility.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | TBM 960 | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 1730 | 6450 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | — | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 2908 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 330 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | $ 7.66 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.64 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | $ 3,805 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | — | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 14390 | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | TBM 960 | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 3500 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | 6722 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 35.3 | 80.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | 4 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | 4.1 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | 13.4 | 42.7 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | — | 26.1 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 42.1 | 86.3 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | 6.3 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | 29.2 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | 140 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | 1695 |