Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Pilatus Pc 24
The Bell 525 Relentless is a fly-by-wire, twin‑engine helicopter aimed at offshore and executive missions. Its practical range is roughly in the 500–600 nautical mile class, and it typically carries around 12–16 passengers depending on configuration, trading speed and altitude for point-to-point access to helipads and remote sites. The Cessna Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet suited to short-to-medium trips, with about 2,000–2,100 nautical miles of range and a typical passenger load of about 7–9 in executive seating (with higher maximums possible). It emphasizes runway flexibility and efficient regional coverage. The Dassault Falcon 8X is a long‑range, large‑cabin trijet designed for intercontinental flying, offering roughly 6,000+ nautical miles of range and commonly seating about 12–16 passengers, prioritizing comfort, endurance, and high-altitude cruise. The Pilatus PC‑24 is a light jet with rugged, short/soft-field capability, generally around 2,000 nautical miles of range and typically 6–8 passengers, positioned between traditional light jets and utility aircraft for access-focused missions.
| Spec | Bell 525 Relentless | Cessna Citation XLS+ | Dassault Falcon 8X | Pilatus PC-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 | 6 |
| Flight Rules | IFR | — | — | — |
| Manufacturer | Bell | Cessna Citation | Dassault Falcon | Pilatus |
| Aircraft Name | 525 Relentless | XLS+ | 8X | PC-24 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 580 | 1906 | 6450 | 2076 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 16 | 10 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 6675 | 7540 | 36900 | 6680 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 | 6 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Garmin G5000H | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 | Honeywell Primus EASy II | Pilatus ACE (Primus Apex) |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 160 | 430 | 516 | 440 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $15,000,000 | $15,500,000 | $ 62,500,000 | $11,800,000 |
| DOC / nm | — | $ 5.34 | $ 7.66 | $ 3.71 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | — | $ 0.67 | $ 0.64 | $ 0.62 |
| Direct Operating Cost | — | $ 2,303 | $ 3,805 | $ 1,619 |
| Cabin | ||||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Seats | 18 | 10 | 17 | 6 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 16 | 9 | 16 | 10 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 16 | 8 | 14 | 6 |
| Lavatory | — | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing | 2 Enclosed Flushing | 1 Enclosed Flushing |
| Crew Rest | — | No | No | No |
| Jump Seat | — | No | Yes | No |
| Galley Location | — | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Lavatory Location | — | AFT | FWD / AFT | FWD |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | — | 9.3 | 10.2 | 9.3 |
| Galley / Refreshment | — | Galley | Galley | Optional Refreshment Center |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | 25230 | 29200 | 23500 |
| Max Cabin Altitude (ft) | — | — | 3900 | — |
| Cargo Door | — | — | — | Yes |
| Engine | ||||
| FADEC | Dual-Channel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CT7-2F1 | PW545C | PW307D | FJ44-4A-QPM |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | — | — | — |
| TBO (hrs) | 4000 | 5000 | On-Condition | 5000 |
| Horsepower | 1800 | — | — | — |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 641 | — | — | — |
| Flat Rating | — | ISA + 10 | ISA + 17 | ISA + 23 |
| Thrust (lbs) | — | 4119 | 6722 | 3435 |
| Dimensions | ||||
| Width (ft) | 25.77 | — | — | — |
| Length (ft) | 61.58 | 52.5 | 80.2 | 52.2 |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.58 | 5.5 | 7.7 | 5.6 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 5.1 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 15.5 | 18.5 | 42.7 | 23 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 18.18 | 17.2 | 26.1 | 17.4 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 54.5 | — | — | — |
| Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft) | 128 | 80 | — | — |
| Wingspan (ft) | — | 56.3 | 86.3 | 55.8 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | — | 0.7 | — | Flat Floor |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | — | 3.9 | 6.3 | 3.8 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | — | 14.3 | 29.2 | 17 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | 10 | 140 | 90 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | — | — | 1695 | — |