Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
By category, the Bell 525 Relentless and the MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer are twin‑engine civil helicopters, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Dassault Falcon 8X are business jets, with the Falcon 8X positioned as an ultra‑long‑range large‑cabin jet and the XLS+ as a midsize jet. On range, the helicopters are shortest: the MD 902 typically covers only a few hundred nautical miles (roughly 300–400 nm class), and the Bell 525 reaches farther for a helicopter, generally in the mid‑hundreds of nautical miles (around 500–600 nm depending on fit and reserves). The Citation XLS+ extends range into true cross‑country capability at roughly about 2,000–2,100 nm, suitable for many U.S. transcontinental or regional international legs. The Falcon 8X is in a different league, spanning roughly 6,400+ nm, enabling missions like New York–Dubai or Paris–Singapore with appropriate conditions. Passenger capacity follows a similar progression: the MD 902 is commonly configured around 6–7 passengers, the Bell 525 around 12–16, the Citation XLS+ typically 8–9, and the Falcon 8X commonly 12–16+ depending on layout.
| 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 |