Bell 525 Relentless vs Cessna Citation Xls vs Dassault Falcon 8x vs Robinson R66
The Bell 525 Relentless and Robinson R66 are helicopters, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ and Dassault Falcon 8X are fixed‑wing business jets. In category and mission, the R66 is a light single‑engine turbine helicopter suited to short regional hops and utility/owner‑pilot use; the Bell 525 is a larger, modern super‑medium helicopter aimed at higher-speed corporate, offshore, and multi-role operations. The Citation XLS+ is a midsize business jet optimized for efficient, comfortable point‑to‑point travel between regional and transcontinental city pairs, whereas the Falcon 8X is a long‑range, large‑cabin flagship designed for intercontinental missions and premium cabin space. In range, the R66 is the shortest, the Bell 525 extends notably farther within the helicopter class, the Citation XLS+ reaches significantly farther than either helicopter on typical business routes, and the Falcon 8X is the clear leader with true long‑haul capability. In passenger capacity, the R66 typically carries the fewest, the Bell 525 generally carries more than the R66, the Citation XLS+ commonly seats around 8–9 in business configuration, and the Falcon 8X usually accommodates the most with flexible high-end cabin layouts.
| 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 |