Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore, corporate, and mission roles. It typically carries around 16–20 passengers depending on layout, with a practical range on the order of roughly 500–600 nautical miles, prioritizing vertical access over speed and long legs. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a super‑midsize business jet designed for fast point‑to‑point travel between regional hubs. It generally seats about 7–9 passengers in a standard executive cabin and offers about 1,900–2,100 nautical miles of range, making it well suited for multi‑hour trips at jet speeds. The Daher TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop, best viewed as an owner‑flown or small‑team business aircraft. It typically carries 4–6 passengers (up to about 6–7 seats including the pilot position) and can reach roughly 1,400–1,700 nautical miles depending on power and reserves. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a twin‑engine light jet built for versatility, including operation from shorter or rougher runways than many jets. It commonly seats about 6–10 passengers and offers roughly 1,700–2,000 nautical miles of range.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Daher TBM 960 | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | IFR | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Daher TBM | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | TBM 960 | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 1730 | 2076 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | — | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 2908 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Garmin G3000 | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 330 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $4,450,000 | $11,800,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 2.25 | $ 3.71 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.56 | $ 0.62 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 744 | $ 1,619 |
| Aircraft Type | — | — | Turbo Prop | — |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | — | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | No | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | — | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No | — | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | MID | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | — | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 6.2 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | — | Optional Refreshment Center |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 14390 | 23500 |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | TBM 960 | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | 3500 | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | 850 | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 49 | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | — | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 35.3 | 52.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | 4 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | 13.4 | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | — | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 42.1 | 55.8 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | Flat Floor |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | — | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | — | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | — | 90 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 123 | — |