Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Daher Tbm 960 vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless and Robinson R66 are helicopters, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Daher TBM 960 are fixed‑wing airplanes; this drives major differences in mission. The Bell 525 sits in the “super‑medium” twin‑engine helicopter category, typically offering about 8–12 passenger seating depending on layout, with range roughly in the 500–600 nautical mile class. The Robinson R66 is a light single‑engine helicopter aimed at simpler utility and personal transport, usually carrying a pilot plus 4 passengers (about 5 seats total), with range commonly around 300–350 nautical miles. The Citation XLS+ is a light business jet optimized for speed and comfort, generally seating about 7–9 passengers, with range around 1,800–2,100 nautical miles. The TBM 960 is a high‑performance single‑engine turboprop, typically configured for 4–6 passengers plus a pilot (often 6–7 seats total), with range roughly 1,400–1,700 nautical miles. In general, the jet and TBM offer far greater range than the helicopters, while the helicopters provide vertical‑lift access to unimproved sites.
| 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 |