Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Leonardo Aw189
The Bell 525 Relentless and Leonardo AW189 are long‑range, twin‑engine helicopters aimed at offshore, VIP, and utility missions, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Dassault Falcon 8X are fixed‑wing business jets designed for faster point‑to‑point travel. In range, the Falcon 8X is in a different class: as an ultra‑long‑range trijet it can fly intercontinental missions (roughly 6,000+ nm), far beyond the super‑midsize Citation XLS+ (about 2,000+ nm) and far beyond either helicopter (typically a few hundred nautical miles, depending on payload and reserves). For passenger capacity, the Falcon 8X commonly seats around 12–16 in executive layouts; the Citation XLS+ is typically arranged for about 8–9 passengers. The AW189 generally carries more people than the Bell 525 in many configurations, commonly around 16–19 passengers, whereas the Bell 525 is often configured in the mid‑teens for offshore or VIP use. Overall, choose helicopters for access to helipads and vertical lift; choose jets for speed and long range.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Dassault Falcon 8X | AGUSTA / LEONARDO AW189 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Dassault Falcon | Leonardo |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | 8X | AW189 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 6450 | 651 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 16 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 36900 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Honeywell Primus EASy II | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 516 | 155 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $2,413,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 7.66 | $ 15.57 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.74 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 3,805 | $ 2,413 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 16 | 19 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 | 19 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | PW307D | CT7-2E1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | On-Condition | 4000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | — | 1983 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 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 | 57.8 |
| 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 | 16.6 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | 48 |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — | 85 |
| 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 | 395 |