Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Enstrom 480b
The Bell 525 Relentless and Enstrom 480B are helicopters, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Daher TBM 960 are fixed‑wing airplanes. In category terms, the Bell 525 is a large, fly‑by‑wire, super‑medium class rotorcraft aimed at offshore and corporate transport, whereas the Enstrom 480B is a much smaller light single‑engine piston helicopter suited to short-range utility and training. The Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet optimized for comfortable, faster point‑to‑point travel, and the TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop, typically operated as an owner‑flown business aircraft. For range, the Citation XLS+ and TBM 960 generally offer the longest legs among these four, with typical missions around the 1,000–1,800+ nautical mile class depending on reserves and conditions; the Bell 525 is shorter but still substantial for a helicopter, while the Enstrom 480B is the shortest-range option, best for local to regional hops. Passenger capacity also separates them: the Citation XLS+ and Bell 525 can be configured for roughly 8–12 passengers, the TBM 960 commonly carries about 4–6 passengers in executive comfort, and the Enstrom 480B typically seats around 4–5 including the pilot.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | TBM 960 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 1730 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | — |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 2908 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 330 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 744 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 6.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 14390 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | TBM 960 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 850 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 35.3 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | 4 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | 4.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | 13.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | — |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 42.1 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 |