Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter designed for point‑to‑point vertical access rather than runway-to-runway travel. In category terms it sits in the super‑medium helicopter class, typically carrying around 12 to 16 passengers depending on interior and mission fit. Its range is roughly in the 500–600 nautical mile class (configuration dependent), making it well suited to regional missions, offshore support, and city-center arrivals where landing sites are constrained. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet optimized for short-to-medium runway performance and efficient regional-to-continental trips. It generally seats about 8 to 9 passengers in a standard executive layout, with range on the order of about 2,000 nautical miles. The Dassault Falcon 8X is an ultra‑long‑range large‑cabin business jet aimed at intercontinental missions. Typical seating is around 12 to 16 passengers, and its range is approximately 6,450 nautical miles, enabling nonstop long-haul city pairs that are far beyond the Citation XLS+ and any helicopter.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Dassault Falcon 8X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Dassault Falcon |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | 8X |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 6450 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 16 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 36900 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Honeywell Primus EASy II |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 516 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 7.66 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.64 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 3,805 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 16 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No | Yes |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | FWD / AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 10.2 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | Galley |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 29200 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | PW307D |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | On-Condition |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 17 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | 6722 |
| Dimensions | |||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 80.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | 7.7 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.2 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | 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 | 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) | — | — | 1695 |